US History
The Vietnam War
Student Workbook | Unit 10
Name: _______________________________________________
Period: _______ Teacher: _______________________________
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Vocabulary Homework
Define each term and explain how it was important to the Vietnam War. Remember, all homework is due
the day of the test.
10.1 –
Chapter 30 Section 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Nguyen Tat Thanh
Vietminh
Domino Theory
Geneva Accords
Ngo Dinh Diem
10.2 –
Chapter 30 Sections 2 and 3
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Ho Chi Minh Trail
Agent Orange
Credibility Gap
Teach-In
Doves and Hawks
Tet Offensive
10.3 –
Chapter 30 Section 4
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Linkage
Vietnamization
My Lai
Kent State University
Pentagon Papers
War Powers Act
3
History of French Indochina and US Involvement
1800s1941
Various
Presidents

U.S. supported
President:

U.S. supported
With
Before
19411945
Because
President:

U.S. supported
With
19451953
Because
President:

U.S. supported
With
19531961

In 1954, __________________________________________
defeated ____________________________________________ at
___________________________________________________.
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
2 provisions of the Geneva accords:
1.
2.

Now, the U.S. supported
With
President:

U.S. supported
Because
19611963
With

____________________________ became increasingly unpopular.
Because of this the ________________________ supported a coup.
1. Describe Americas relationship with Vietnam (generalize, do not do a play-by-play).
2. Imagine you are LBJ and you have inherited the Vietnam situation; what would you do after
taking office?
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Gulf of Tonkin
Lead up to the Vietnam War: (in each box, create a simple image to show what is happening)
French colonialism in Vietnam:
Japan took over Vietnam during
When Japan was defeated in 1945,
1800s-1941
WWII.
Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnamese
independence.
But, the French came back in and
tried to take over again. The US
supported the French (pledged $15
million in military aid).
Diem turns out to be very
oppressive and unpopular. He
canceled elections, repressed
Buddhists and caused major
discontent in South Vietnam.
October 1955: South Vietnam
declares itself the Republic of
Vietnam. US supported South
Vietnam’s leader, Ngo Dinh Diem.
July 1954: Geneva Convention
calls for France to leave and split
Vietnam in two – North and South,
with the idea that free elections
would be held
May 1954: France is defeated at
the Battle of Dien Bien Phu
November 1963: U.S. supported a
coup and Diem was overthrown
and killed.
South Vietnam has a weak
government which allows
communism to gain strength.
North Vietnam smuggled weapons
in through the Ho Chi Minh Trails
in Laos and Cambodia.
August 1964: North Vietnamese
attack US destroyer in international
waters – this is known as the Gulf
of Tonkin incident.
August 1964: US Congress passes
the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
which authorizes President
Johnson to use military force in
Vietnam.
Analysis:
Looking at the information above and the information from yesterday’s lesson, do you think the United States was planning to go to war with
North Vietnam before the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was passed?
Please label the map, include the following:








North Vietnam
South Vietnam
China
Laos
Thailand
Cambodia
Gulf of Tonkin
Please draw in the Ho Chi Minh Trail and label it
Answer the questions.
1. List out the supporters for each side, explain the role of the NVA and VC, and the goal.
North Vietnam
Supporters:
South Vietnam
Supporters:
North Vietnamese Army
(NVA)
Viet Cong (VC)
Goal:
Goal:
2. Explain why the Domino Theory kept the United States engaged in the conflict in Vietnam.
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3. Explain what happened at the Gulf of Tonkin.
10. How did the United States attempt to deal with the system of
tunnels?
4. Describe the powers given to Johnson in the Gulf of Tonkin
Resolution (looking in particular at Section 2 of the document).
11. How was napalm used during the Vietnam War?
5. Provide details on Operation Rolling Thunder.
12. What is Agent Orange?
6. Predict the expected impact of Operation Rolling Thunder upon the
North Vietnamese.
13. How was Agent Orange used during the Vietnam War?
14. What was the purpose of the Ho Chi Minh Trail?
7. What advantages did the VC have over American soldiers?
8. Provide details on the tunnel system created by the VC.
15. How did the Ho Chi Minh Trail help the North Vietnamese and the
VC?
9. Explain the advantage gained by the VC with these tunnel systems.
16. In what ways did the US attempt to deal with Ho Chi Minh trail?
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1968: Tet Offensive and My Lai Massacre
Background
• Vietnam war was from ___________________________
•
US involved from ____________________
•
Includes Vietnam, _____________, and _______________________
•
Total deaths – about _______________________________

________________________ American soldiers died
Why was the US Involved?
• 1954 – Vietnam was divided in half

North – _____________________

South – _____________________
• 1965 – US gets involved
 Sends in troops to the ______________
 Wants to keep the South’s government from
collapsing
Tet Offensive
Lead up to the Tet Offensive
Describe the graphic at the right
Khe Sanh
January 21, 1968

20,000 _________ troops attack Khe Sanh

NVA under the command of General
_______

Khe Sanh was an isolated _____________ air
base, about 14 miles from the northern border
General Giap’s Plan

____________ US Marines were surrounded
along with South Vietnamese forces

Siege lasted __________________

US mounts counterattack, pushes NVA back

At home, protestors were comparing this to
___________________________________
What is Tet?
Tet Holiday Truce | 1968
Tet Offensive Begins
January 31, 1968
• Targets
 84,000 VC __________________ aided by NVA
 35 of 44 provincial capitals
 Attacks more than 100 cities and towns in the South
 __________________ – capital of
 Aided by the element of surprise because of the
South
 _______________________ in
_________________________________
Saigon
Battle for Saigon
January 3 – March 7, 1968
 35 _________________________
Attack on the US Embassy
January 31, 1968
 19 _________ soldiers blew their way into the US
units
Embassy
 50 _________________________
 VC killed _____________ MP’s
 Attack _______________ – VC were pinned down by
units
 ____________________________ are
able to keep Saigon from being taken
Marine guards
 All 19 VC were _____________________
Battle for Hue
January 31 – March 2
 _______________ NVA and VC storm
Massacre in Hue
 More than 3,000 “enemies of people”
this historic city


Hue is not ________________________

US and South forces counter-attack

_________________ fighting of the entire
Tet Offensive
Tet Offensive – The Big Picture
Turning Point of the War
________________ by VC and NVA in Hue
officers, and Catholic priests

Mass ___________ were found: people were
_____________ and sometimes buried alive

“Credibility Gap”
Including SV government officials, SV
Estimates might be closer to 6,000 executed
“The Living Room War”
Political Fallout of Tet
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My Lai Massacre
Background
March 16, 1968
 My Lai is a small village in South Vietnam

US soldiers of _________________ Company
 Told that _______________ of VC troops were coming through the area
 Told by their captain that all people in My Lai were either _________ members or
sympathizers
What Happened?
 __________________ rounded up
hundreds of civilians

Many were raped, beaten, and/or tortured

Many were then ____________________

Between _________________ civilians
were killed
Casualties
Of those killed:

Many were _______________ and
___________________

Many were “suspected” to be __________
________________ by US soldiers

Killed by firearms, grenades and bayonets
Cover Up and Investigation
 Despite the photos, this event was covered up until ______________ 1969 (but wasn’t brought to
the public’s attention until ___________________ 1969)

The photos were key evidence in the ____________________ investigation

Ultimately, ________ soldiers were charged
 One was sentenced to _________________ (Lieutenant Calley), but only served ____ months
 Army concluded there was a widespread failure of ___________________, discipline and
____________________

Americans increased their demand for a __________________ from Vietnam

Still considered the worst case of American war __________________
Tet Analysis
What was the immediate impact of the Tet
Offensive? In the US and in Vietnam?
My Lai Analysis
How did this event being brought to American’s
attention aid the anti-war movement in America?
What was the long-term impact?
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Protests and Music of Vietnam
Vietnam War Protests
Invasion of Cambodia
Protests in Kent, Ohio
May 4, 1970 and The Numbers
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)
Details from the Analysis of Evidence:
In what ways was the National Guard justified in opening fire? In what ways was the National Guard not
justified in opening fire?
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Song Title:
Artist:
Details:
What is meant by the term “tin soldiers” in the song? What does the reference to Nixon mean?
Song Title:
Artist:
Details:
What events are mentioned in this song?
Song Title:
Artist:
Details:
Who are the fortunate ones in this song? What is the main message of the song?
Song Title:
Artist:
Details:
Who fights the brunt of the war according to the song? What do the lyrics say that war is good for? Who
is war’s only friend?
Song Title:
Artist:
Details:
According to the song, what is the solution for war? What other era in our country was winding down in
the 1971 and is the focus of the song?
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Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
Background Vocab
 KIA – killed in action
 MIA – missing in action
 WIA – wounded in action
 V.C. – communist army in the South
 Charlie – communist forces (both VC and NVA)
 Victor Charlie – Viet Cong
Statistical Analysis/Evidence: When you see the screens that will present the following information, copy
it into the table below.
Year
U. S. Troops in Vietnam
Killed in Action
(to date)
Wounded in Action (to
Date)
Dec 31, 1965
Dec 31, 1966
Dec 31, 1967
Dec 31, 1968
Dec 31, 1969
End of War Total Dead
1975
As you watch this film, answer the following questions. Questions 1-8 can be answered in a few words while
you watch the film. Questions 9-13 require more thought and draw on information presented throughout the
course of the film. As you watch, be sure to take notes in order to answer those questions.
1.
The film begins its chronicling of U.S. involvement in Vietnam in what year?
2.
What are Hueys? What is a “Zippo Raid?”
3.
The terms “V.C.,” “Charlie” and “Chuck” all refer to what?
4.
What was the average age of a U.S. combat soldier in Vietnam?
5.
On Tet, the Chinese New Year, what did the Viet Cong and the NVA (North Vietnamese Army)
do?
6.
Shortly after the Tet Offensive, what did Lyndon Johnson decide?
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7.
At the May, 1970 anti-war protest at Kent State University in Ohio, what did National Guard troops
do?
8.
How did the U.S. soldiers in Vietnam respond to this event?
Analysis Question
9.
What were some of the things (multiple) that made fighting so difficult for the U.S. soldiers in
Vietnam?
10.
There are many shots of South Vietnamese civilians throughout the film. Describe how these
people lived.
11.
List several reasons why (according to their letters) these soldiers fought in Vietnam.
12.
How does the music contribute to the film?
13.
Overall, do you think this film has a “message” concerning the Vietnam War? What do you think it
is? What is its point of view or perspective regarding U.S. involvement in Vietnam?
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Nixon and Vietnam
LBJ (Johnson)
1. What does LBJ’s decision tell you about the war in Vietnam?
2.
If you were a soldier in Vietnam and heard this, how would you feel?
Nixon
1. What was Vietnamization?
2. Who was the “silent majority”?
a. Based upon the graph (Document B), do the numbers support or refute Nixon’s claims? Explain.
3. Why did Nixon believe Vietnamization was the best plan for the nation in 1969?
4. Based on what you have learned on the war in Vietnam and the broader Cold War, do you think Nixon’s plan
for Vietnamization was a continuation of the governmental policy of containment or something totally
different? Explain.
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Nixon expanded the war and
continued the killing for four more
years than necessary.
Nixon did the right thing. The US
had to give President Thieu a
chance to hold out against North
Vietnam after the US left.
Nixon sold out the South
Vietnamese. He should have stayed
until all North Vietnamese troops
left South Vietnam.
Analyze:
How do you view Nixon’s Vietnam policy? Do you agree or disagree with his policy? Do you support the end
result? Explain using evidence from above.
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1968: The Whole World Was Watching
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
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Study Guide
Please be familiar with the following for your multiple choice, short answer and essay assessment a(most,
but not all, items will be included on your assessment):
-
Historic background of Vietnam
-
Ngo Dinh Diem
-
Ho Chi Minh
-
VC, NVA and Vietminh
-
Tet Offensive
-
Ho Chi Minh Trail
-
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
-
Military Advisors
-
Geneva Accords (know details)
-
The “living room war”
-
Agent Orange
-
Napalm
-
Dien Bien Phu
-
My Lai
-
Domino Theory
-
Vietnamization
-
Kent State
-
Guerilla Warfare
-
Operation Rolling Thunder
-
Containment
-
Events of 1968
-
FDR and Vietnam
-
Truman and Vietnam
-
Kennedy and Vietnam
-
Johnson and Vietnam
-
Nixon and Vietnam
-
Nixon and Cambodia
-
Result of US withdrawal from Vietnam
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