VCHS
Mrs. Ray
American Studies
Snow pay #7
"Vietnam Conflict"
Objective:
Discuss the arguments for and against getting involved in the Viefiram Conflict.
o
Directions:
1. Read the background and the two articles (p. 4l-42) attached.
2. Answer the questions that follow onp.43-44.
3. Be prepared to discuss both sides of the issue in class.
Background
Before World War II, France ruled Vietnam. After the war, the French tried to return but were resisted.
Most of the Vietnamese rebels were members of the communist-led Viet Minh. Inl954,France agreecl
to leave Vietnam. The communists were given the northern half of the country while the south rvas
given to an anti-communist government. Soon, South Vietnamese communists, supplied by North
Vietnam, began a war to overthrow their government. The U.S. sent supplies and advisors to the South
Vietnamese govemment. Flor,vever, by I 965 , the communists controlled 213 of South Vietnam.
Send U.S. Troops to Save South Vietnam
By "Walter Eastland"
America must defcnd South Vietnam, even ifthat
means sending American soldiers into battle. In
the history of the world, democracy has never
faced an opponent as dangerous as communism.
Some people argue that the South Vietnamese
President should have participated in elections to
reunifu the country in 1956. But, there have
never been fair elections in communist nations.
He would not have been allowed to compete
fairly in the North.
Communists have taken over nearly 20 countries
since I 917. Their conquests are always followed
by mass killings of innocent civilians and the
brutal "reeducation" of those who still believe in
freedom. Josef Stalin and Mao Tse-Tung were
each responsible for more deaths than Hitler.
In 1957, North Vietnam began supplying
communist rebels in the South in the hope of
overthrowing the government there. We now
know that North Vietnamese soldiers themselves
are also fighting in the South.
Communism is committed to expansion because
it considers freedom a threat. This is why
communist governments support rebellions in
We must keep our commitment to the SEATO
trealy we signed with South Vietnam. Our ally is
being invaded. We must defend them. Whatwill
other countries say about our trustworthiness if
we do not stand by our treaties?
neighboring countries. And, this makes it
important for us to defend all non-communist
countries. For when one falls, it is used as a base
from which rebels try to overthrow another, and
then another. If not helped, countries fall to
communism like dominos. Since 1945, our goal
has been to contain communism. We have
successfully helped Greece, Turkey and South
Korea resist communist expansion.
Vietnam's experience is similar
to
It is true that, since we focus on containing
communism, we sometimes support less than
perfect rulers. And. it is tme that South
Vietnam's rulers have been less than perfect.
But, we should not forget an important lesson.
No nation, once it has become communist. has
the
ever returned to being a democracy.
experiences of those countries. After the French
left and the communists took over in the North, 1
million Northerners escaped to the South. Tens
of thousands who stayed in the North were sent
to reeducation camps. Thousands were executed.
Despite their government's imperfections, South
Vietnamese are freer than Northerners. And,
over time, if we defend them from communism,
they will become even freer.
4l
Keep U.S. Troops Out of South Vietnam
By "Michelle Manning"
Vietnam has a history of being oppressed by
foreigners. After World War Ii the French tried
to return as rulers. When we decided to support
France, we committed a huge mistake.
is not even supported by the South Vietnamese
people. A communist government cannot be
much worse than the government ruling South
Vietnam now.
It is true that the leader of the rebellion against
France, Ho Chi Minh, was a communist. But
many of his followers didn't even know what
Most Americans can't even find Vietnan on a
map. It has no natural resources on which we are
dependent. it has no strategic military value. It
is right next to communist China, which means
that, at any time, China can send supplies and
soldiers to help the North Vietnamese. How do
we expect to win without also fighting China?
And, why do we want to go to war with China to
defend a country with no economic or military
value to us and which is ruled by dictators?
communism was; they just wanted the French to
leave. They were fighting for freedom.
Our association with the French in the 1950s
it difficult for any government supported
by us to win the support of the Vietnamese
people. We should get out of Vietnam now
makes
before we commit too much to this losing cause.
Some suggest
we must save the
South
Vietnamese government because we signed the
so-called SEATO treaty with them. But the
SEATO treaty pledges us to defend South
Vietnam if it is invaded. South Vietnam is not
being invaded. Its govemment is about to be
overthrown by its own people.
Those who want to send troops claim we must do
so to defend democracy. But there is no
democracy in South Vietnam. In 1956, the
President of South Vietnam refused to participate
in elections to reunify the country. Instead, he
held his own fraudulent election in the South, in
which he supposedly won 99o% of the vote.
if
we send American soldiers to support the
goverrrment in South Vietnam, we will turn a
In i963, South Vietnamese soldiers killed him.
Since then, four military dictators have ruled
South Vietnam. That is not democracy. We
should not send our soldiers to fight for this
mistake into a disaster. Our foreign policy
should be based on opposition to all tyramries,
not just the communist ones.
goveiliment. Tlie South Vietnamese govemment
42
Name
Vietnam Conflict
Worksheet
1)
According to Eastland, how rnany countries have been taken over by communists since l91l?
and how many of those have been returned to being democracies?
2)
According to Eastland, how many North Vietnamese escaped to South Vietnam after the North
became communist?
3)
According to Manning, who is the leader of the communist Viet-Minh?
4)
According to Manning, how many dictators have ruled South Vietnam since 1963?
5)
Compare and contrast their views on the SEATO Treaty'
6)
Compare and contrast their views on the election that was supposed to reunifr North and South
Vietnam in 1956.
(Over please)
43
7)
If the U.S. did not send soldiers to defend South Vietnam, what do you think would
have
happened?
8)
If the U.S. sent soldiers to invade communist North Vietnam, what do you think would
have
happened?
9)
Who do you agree with and what is their most persuasive argument, statistic or example?
l0)
If you had to find
a
compromise between the two, what would it be and describe what each side
would have to give up in your compromise?
44