AnOverviewoftheVietnamWar
Overview
Inthislesson,studentswillbeintroducedtotheVietnamWarthroughasimulationregardingtheanxietyof
combatandwillthenreceiveanoverviewofthewarviaateacherPowerPointpresentationorlecture
(provided),oratextbookreadingfollowedbyclassdiscussion.Studentswillthencreateanillustrated
timelinepicturingtheprominenteventsfromtheyearsofconflict.
Grade
11
NCEssentialStandardsforAmericanHistoryII
• AH2.H.1.1-Usechronologicalthinking…
• AH2.H.1.2-UseHistoricalComprehensionto:
• AH2.H.1.3-Usehistoricalanalysisandinterpretation…
• AH2.H.1.4-Usehistoricalresearch…
• AH2.H.2.1Analyzekeypolitical,economic,andsocialturningpointssincetheendofReconstructionin
termsofcausesandeffects
• AH2.H.2.2EvaluatekeyturningpointssincetheendofReconstructionintermsoftheirlastingimpact
• AH2.H.4.3Analyzethesocialandreligiousconflicts,movementsandreformsthatimpactedtheUnited
StatessinceReconstructionintermsofparticipants,strategies,opposition,andresults
• AH2.H.6.2ExplainthereasonsforUnitedStatesinvolvementinglobalwarsandtheinfluenceeach
involvementhadoninternationalaffairs
• AH2.H.7.1ExplaintheimpactofwarsonAmericanpoliticssinceReconstruction
• AH2.H.7.3ExplaintheimpactofwarsonAmericansocietyandculturesinceReconstruction
Materials
• Scrapmaterialthatcanbeusedasblindfolds
• ChartpaperandPost-itnotes
• Teacherreferencedocument:“AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar”,attached
• Optional:“AnOverviewoftheVietnamWar,”PowerPoint;availableinCarolinaK-12’sDatabaseofK-12
Resources(inPDFformat)
o ToviewthisPDFasaprojectablepresentation,savethefile,click“View”inthetopmenubarofthe
file,andselect“FullScreenMode”
o TorequestaneditablePPTversionofthispresentation,[email protected]
• Optional:“StudentNotes:AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar,”questionsandanswerkeyattached
• VietnamWarTimelinestrips,attached
• Artpaperandmarkers,crayons,orcoloredpencils
• Optionalhomework:“AfghanistanhauntedbyghostofVietnam,”CNNarticleattached
EssentialQuestions:
• WhatwerethecausesoftheVietnamWar?
• WhydidtheUnitedStatesbecomeinvolvedintheconflict?
• WhatwerethemajoreventsoftheVietnamWar?
• HowdidtheVietnamWarchangetheUnitedStatesandVietnam?
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Duration
• 60minutes
Procedure
BewareofLandmines!(OptionalWarm-UpSimulation)
1. Atthebeginningofclass,breakstudentsupintopartnersandhavethemchoosetobeAorB.Instructthe
A’stolineupononesideoftheroomsidebyside.Tellthemtoturntheirbacktothecenteroftheroom
andusetheprovidedmaterialtoblindfoldthemselves.
2. Next,havetheB’splaceitemsonthefloorthatwouldblockthepathoftheA’siftheyweretowalkacross
theroom(books,apileofpencils,jackets,backpacks,etc.).Theteachershouldjustmakesurethatnone
oftheobjectsusedcouldcauseharm.Ensurethestudentsspreadtheobjectsaroundthewholeroom,so
thatthefloorisevenlycovered.Ifpossible,turnonarecordingofwarsoundeffects.
3. Onceallitemsareplaced,tellthegroupthatalloftheitemsonthefloor,whichtheB’scanseeandtheA’s
cannot,representlandmines.Iftheyaresteppedonormovedinanyway,theywillexplodeandobliterate
thepoorpersonwhohashitit.
4. ExplainthatA’smustnavigateacrosstheroomwithoutopeningtheireyesandwithouthittingalandmine.
TheonlyassistancetheywillhaveistheirpartnerByellingwarningstodirectthemwhentheyarecloseto
danger.B’smaynotsteertheirpartnersphysicallyinanyway.Inadditiontothewarsoundeffects(if
available),B’scanalsobeinstructedtoaddtothestressoftheactivitybyyellingwarlikeslogans,suchas
“Incoming!;Retreat!;Weareunderattack!;”etc.
5. Oncestudentsunderstandwhattodo,theteachershouldassumetheroleofasergeantandyell
directives.HaveA’sbeginmovingacrosstheroombyyelling,“Alrightsoldier’s,moveout!We’vegot
enemiesonourtrail,butproceedwithcaution!Let’sMOVE!”TheteacherandB’sshouldcontinue
makingthesimulationasstressfulaspossibleforA’s,whilestillensuringstudentsarenotliterallyharmed
inanyway.TheteacherandB’sshouldpaycloseattentiontotheA’sandifanyrunintoanyofthe
landmines,yellandletA’sknowtheyhavebeenblownup.
6. OnceallA’shavenavigatedthroughthelandminesorbeenblownup,discuss:
• Whatdidthatexperiencefeellike?
• Imaginethelandminesyouwerecircumventingwerereal.Whatwouldthisexperiencehavebeenlike
then?
• Youwereblindfoldedtoillustratehowsoldiersdidnotnecessarilyknowwherelandmineswerewhen
travelingongroundinenemyterritory.Howdoyouimaginethisuncertaintyaffectedthem?
• Basedonwhatwehavediscussedintermsofwaringeneral,andbasedonthisactivity,whatdoyou
imaginegroundcombatwouldhavebeenlikeduringwar?
• Canyouthinkofanywarswherelandmineswerelikelyused?Whatotherdangerousaspectsof
warfarehavebeenemployedthroughouthistory?
OverviewoftheVietnamWar
7. Tellstudentsthattheywillbelearningaboutoneofthemostdangerousandcontroversialwarsinthe
historyoftheU.S.,theVietnamWar,whichlastedfrom1964-1973.Explaintostudentsthatwhilethey
werejustplayingagame,inreality,soldiersfightinginVietnam,bothAmericanandVietnamesefaced
dangerousconditionseveryday.Tellstudentsyou’lldiscusstheactualuseoflandminesduringthewara
bitlater,butthatyoufirstwanttohearwhattheyalreadyknowabouttheVietnamWar.Togauge
students’priorknowledge,drawawordwebonapieceofchartpaperwiththewords“VietnamWar”in
thecenter.GiveeachstudentthreePost-Itnotesandinstructthemtothinkaboutthephraseandthen
writedownthefirstthreethingsthatcometomindonthePost-Itsprovided.Studentsshouldthenadd
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theirPost-Itnotestothewordweb.Aftertheallottedtime,discusswhatstudentshaveposted.Dispel
anymisinformationbeforeintroducingstudentstoageneraloverviewoftheconflict.
SincetherearenumerouscomponentstotheVietnamWarera,teachersshouldchoosewhichaspectsof
thewartohighlightwiththeirstudents.Optionsforprovidinganoverviewofthewarinclude:
• UseCarolinaK-12’sPowerPoint,“AnOverviewoftheVietnamWar,”whichcanbefoundinthe
DatabaseofK-12Resources(k12database.unc.edu)[email protected].
ThisPPTprovidesageneraloverviewofallmajoraspectsoftheconflict;teachersshouldpickand
choosewhichcomponentsofthepresentationtheywishtosharewithstudents.
• Deliveraninteractivelecturetostudentsbasedontheattachedteacherresourcedocument,which
offersacondensedsummaryoftheeventsoftheVietnamconflict.Teacherscanalsoprovidethe
attacheddiscussionquestionsforstudentstofilloutthroughoutthelecture.
• ProvideanintroductoryreadingtostudentsregardingVietnam,suchastheinformationprovidedin
theirtextbook.Gooverthereadingwithstudentsbyaskingclarifyingquestionstoensurestudents
gainabasicfoundationofknowledgeregardingVietnam.
8. WhetherusingexcerptsfromthePowerPoint,deliveringalectureoverview,ordiscussingafterareading,
keeptheoverviewoftheVietnamWarasinteractiveaspossible.Forexample,posebasicquestionstothe
classthatfollowabasichistoryoftheVietnamWar,includingwhytheUnitedStatesgotinvolvedandthe
finaloutcomeoftheconflict.TalkaboutthedifferenteffectstheVietnamWarhadonAmerica,and
encouragethestudentstobrainstormhowtheythinkthewarmighthaveaffectedVietnam.Forexample:
• WhofoughtagainstwhomintheVietnamWar?
• DoesanyonethinktheyknowwhytheUnitedStatesbecameinvolvedinVietnam?Whydiditincrease
itsinvolvementintothe1970s?
• WhatspecificeventsmarkedthebeginningoftheUnitedStates’activemilitarycampaignagainst
NorthVietnam?(e.g.,theGulfofTonkinResolution)
• WhatwastheinitialpublicsentimentintheUnitedStatesregardingU.S.involvementinVietnam?
• WhatwasPresidentJohnson’sattitudetowardU.S.involvementinVietnam?WhatwasPresident
Nixon’sattitudetowardthewar?
• HowdidthewarchangeunderPresidentNixon’sadministration?
• WastheVietnamWaroverwhelminglypopularamongAmericancivilians?Whyorwhynot?
• WhatwastheaffectofthewaronAmericans?WhatwastheaffectofthewaronthoseinVietnam?
• DoanyofyouknowanyonewhofoughtintheVietnamWar?Havetheytoldyouabouttheir
experiences?
• WheredoyougetmostofyourinformationabouttheVietnamWar?School?Videogames?Movies?
TV?
• HaveyouseenanyfilmsabouttheVietnamWar?Howisthewardepicted?
VietnamWarIllustratedTimeline
9. Oncestudentshavereceivedabasicoverviewoftheconflict,toreviewandfurtherfamiliarizestudents
withtheevents,tellstudentstheyaregoingtobeillustratingcertainkeymomentsofthishistoricalperiod,
eitherindividually,inpartners,orinsmallgroups(teacher’sdiscretion).(Thereare29timelinestrips
attachedthatshouldbecutapart;teachersshouldensureeachisillustrated.Onestripcanbeassigned
perindividual,orifteacherspreferforstudentstoworkinpartnersorsmallgroups,multiplestripscanbe
assignedforeachpartner/grouptoillustrate.)Tellstudentsthattheyareresponsibleforreadingtheir
strip,researchingadditionalinformationregardingtheevent(s)described(optional),thenillustratingtheir
eventontheartpaperprovided.Finalillustrationsshouldinclude:
• Thedateoftheevent,prominentlyfeatured
• Abriefbutcleardescriptionoftheevent
• Anappropriateandcolorfulillustration;illustrationscanbeliteralorabstract,aslongasitisclearwhat
theabstractimageissymbolizing.
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Encouragestudentstobecreativewhilealsobeinghistoricallyaccurateandrespectfultothetimeperiod.
Teachersshouldalsoletstudentsknowwhattypeofartisacceptable.Sincecertainaspectsofthe
Vietnamwereveryviolent,itisrecommendedteachersencouragestudentstorefrainfromcreating
particularlygruesomeartwork,andratherleantowardssymbolism.
Finally,letstudentsknowthatuponcompletion,theirworkwillbehunginchronologicalorderwiththe
workoftheirclassmates,creatingalarge,illustratedtimelineofVietnam.Allowstudentstoaskquestions
andgivethemapproximately15-20minutestoworkontheirassignment.(
10. Oncestudentshavefinished,assisttheclassinhandingtheirtimelinearoundtheroominchronological
order.Provideeachstudentwithadouble-sidedcopyoftheattached“IllustratedTimelineReview.”
Teacherscaneitherhavestudentscirculatethroughouttheroomandtakenotesastheyreviewtheart
work,orplacestudentsintosmallgroupsandcirculatetheartworkthroughouteachgroup,allowing
studentstoremainseatedwhiletakingtheirnotes.(Teachersshouldjustensurethetimelinecirculatesin
order.)
11. Afterstudentshavereviewedtheillustratedtimelineandtakennotesonthemajorevents,culminatewith
adiscussion:
• WhatweresomemajorturningpointsoftheVietnamconflict?
• Baseduponwhatyou’velearned,whatdoyouthinkwasthemostdifficultaspectoftheVietnamWar?
(encouragestudentstoconsidermultipleaspectsastheyrespondtothisquestion(i.e.thefearof
beingdrafted,losinglovedonesincombat,difficultpresidentialdecisions,thepassionatefeelingsof
thosewhodisagreedwithandprotestedthewar,returninghomeasasoldierbutbeingprotested
ratherthanhonored,etc.)
• DoyouthinkthereisanywaytheVietnamWarhaveturnedoutdifferently(i.e.lessliveslost,less
controversy,shortertermofinvolvement,etc.)?Ifso,how?
• Thinkbacktoourwarm-up.Whilethatwasachanceforustogetupandhaveabitoffun,inactuality,
whataspectsofVietnam(suchaslandmines)wouldhavebeenincrediblystressfulorfrightening?
o Tobringthelessonfullcircle,sharesomeadditionalinformationregardinglandminesandthe
Vietnamconflictwithstudents.Letthemknowthatwhile“theVietnamwarendedover30years
ago,formanyVietnamese,therealitiesofthewarstilllinger.IntheyearssincethefallofSaigon,
over40,000Vietnamesehavebeenkilledorinjuredbylandminesandunexplodedbombsleft
behindfromthatconflict.Infact,every22minutes,someonearoundtheworldiskilledor
maimedbyalandmine.One-thirdoftheworld'scountriesarelitteredwithlandminesandtheU.S.
StateDepartmentestimatesthat60to75millionlandminesremainunexplodedintheground
worldwide.Someexpert’sestimatethatbetween12-18%ofbombsdroppedduringtheVietnam
Wardidn’texplodeonimpact.Unexplodedordnanceandburiedlandminesposeanongoingand
dailythreattothepeopleofVietnam,particularlyintheDemilitarizedZone,the“DMZ,”which
onceseparatedNorthandSouthVietnam.Thesemunitionscontinuetoinflictinjuryanddeathon
thefarmersandinnocentchildrenofsmallvillages.Removingsuchlandminesisexpensiveand
dangerous,buttherearehumanitarianagenciesandprivateorganizationsincreasingawarenessof
theproblemandraisingfundstohelpvictimsandtode-minethefieldsandricepaddies.”(Source:
http://www.pbs.org/vietnampassage/perspectives/perspectives.landmines.html)
• WhydoyouthinksomepoliticalcommentatorscomparethewarsinIraqandAfghanistantoVietnam?
Canyouseeanyparallels?
12. Optional:Asahomeworkassignment,havestudentsreadtheattachedarticlefromCNN,“Afghanistan
hauntedbyghostofVietnam.”Instructstudentstofilloutthechartatthebottomofthearticleasthey
read,notingthesimilaritiesbetweenVietnamandAfghanistanandthedifferencesbetweenthetwo.Tell
studentstheinformationtheychartcanbefromthereading,butalsofrompriorknowledgeorother
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sources.Teacherswhoassignthereadingshouldreservetimethefollowingclassperiodtodiscussthe
articlewithstudents.
AdditionalActivities
• TeachCarolinaK-12’slesson,“RememberingVietnam:TheVietnamWarMemorial,”availableinthe
DatabaseofK-12Resourcesathttp://k12database.unc.edu/files/2012/05/RememberingVietnam8.pdf
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TEACHERREFERENCEDOCUMENT:
AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar
ImperialismandColonialism
TheVietnamWarhasrootsinVietnam’scenturiesofdominationby
imperialandcolonialpowers—firstChina,whichruledancient
Vietnam,andthenFrance,whichtookcontrolofVietnaminthelate
1800sandestablishedFrenchIndochina.Intheearly1900s,nationalist
movementsemergedinVietnam,demandingmoreself-governance
andlessFrenchinfluence.Themostprominentofthesewasledby
CommunistleaderHoChiMinh,whofoundedamilitantnationalistorganizationcalledtheVietMinh.
TheFirstIndochinaWar
DuringWorldWarII,whenFrancewasoccupiedbyNaziGermany,itlostitsfootholdinVietnam,
andJapantookcontrolofthecountry.TheVietMinhresistedtheseJapaneseoppressorsand
extendeditspowerbasethroughoutVietnam.WhenJapansurrenderedattheendofWorld
WarIIin1945,HoChiMinh’sforcestookthecapitalofHanoianddeclaredVietnamtobean
independentcountry,theDemocraticRepublicofVietnam.
HoChiMinh
FrancerefusedtorecognizeHo’sdeclarationandreturnedtoVietnam,drivingHo’sCommunistforcesinto
northernVietnam.HoappealedforaidfromtheUnitedStates,butbecausetheUnitedStateswasembroiled
intheescalatingColdWarwiththeCommunistUSSR,itdistrustedHo’sCommunistleaningsandaidedthe
Frenchinstead.FightingbetweenHo’sforcesandtheFrenchcontinuedinthisFirstIndochinaWaruntil1954,
whenahumiliatingdefeatatDienBienPhupromptedFrancetoseekapeacesettlement.
DividedVietnam
TheGenevaAccordsof1954declaredacease-fireanddividedVietnamofficiallyintoNorthVietnam(under
HoandhisCommunistforces)andSouthVietnam(underaFrench-backedemperor).Thedividinglinewasset
atthe17thparallelandwassurroundedbyademilitarizedzone,orDMZ.The
GenevaAccordsstipulatedthatthedividewastemporaryandthatVietnamwas
tobereunifiedunderfreeelectionstobeheldin1956.
TheColdWarandtheDominoTheory
Atthispoint,theUnitedStates’ColdWarforeignpolicybegantoplayamajor
partinVietnam.U.S.policyatthetimewasdominatedbythedominotheory,
whichbelievedthatthe“fall”ofNorthVietnamtoCommunismmighttriggerallof
SoutheastAsiatofall,settingoffasortofCommunistchainreaction.Withina
yearoftheGenevaAccords,theUnitedStatesthereforebegantooffersupportto
theanti-CommunistpoliticianNgoDinhDiem.WithU.S.assistance,Diemtook
controloftheSouthVietnamesegovernmentin1955anddeclaredtheRepublicofVietnam.Duetothe
popularityofHoChiMinhthroughoutVietnam,Diempromptlycanceledtheelectionsthathadbeen
scheduledfor1956.
TheDiemRegime
Diem’sregimeprovedcorrupt,oppressive,andextremelyunpopular.Hewassounpopularthatsome
Buddhistmonksprotestedhisregimeusingself-immolation–settingoneselfonfire.Nonetheless,theUnited
StatescontinuedtopropDiemup,fearfuloftheincreasingCommunistresistanceactivityinSouthVietnam.
ThisresistanceagainstDiem’sregimewasorganizedbytheHoChiMinh–backedNationalLiberationFront,
whichbecamemorecommonlyknownastheVietCong.
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In1962,U.S.presidentJohnF.KennedysentAmerican“militaryadvisors”toVietnamtohelptraintheSouth
Vietnamesearmy,theARVN,butquicklyrealizedthattheDiemregimewasunsalvageable.Therefore,in1963,
theUnitedStatesbackedacoupthatoverthrewDiemandinstalledanewleader.ThenewU.S.-backedleaders
provedjustascorruptandineffective.
JohnsonandU.S.Escalation
Kennedy’ssuccessor,LyndonB.Johnson,pledgedtohonorKennedy’scommitmentsbut
hopedtokeepU.S.involvementinVietnamtoaminimum.HekeptKennedy’sSecretaryof
Defense,RobertMcNamara,butreplacedthepreviousAmericanmilitarycommanderwith
WilliamC. Westmoreland–aU.S.generalwhoadvocatedaggressivestrategiesagainstViet
CongandNVAusinglargenumbersofU.S.forces.AfterNorthVietnameseforcesallegedly
Vietnamtakesitstoll
attackedU.S.NavyshipsduringtheGulfofTonkinIncidentin1964,Johnsonwasgivencarte onPresident
Johnson
blancheintheformoftheGulfofTonkinResolution.ThisresolutionallowedJohnson“to
takeallnecessarymeasuretorepelanyarmedattackagainsttheforcesofUnitedStatesandtoprevent
furtheraggression;”thisgreatlyexpandedhispresidentialpower.Withthefreehandrecentlyprovidedby
Congress,JohnsonorderedtheU.S.AirForceandU.S.Navytobeginanintenseseriesofairstrikescalled
OperationRollingThunder.HehopedthatthebombingcampaignwoulddemonstratetotheSouth
VietnamesetheU.S.commitmenttotheircauseanditsresolvetohaltthespreadofCommunism.Ironically,
theairraidsseemedonlytoincreasethenumberofVietCongandNVA(NorthVietnameseArmy)attacks.
Johnson’s“Americanization”ofthewarledtoapresenceofnearly400,000U.S.troopsinVietnambytheend
of1966.
QuagmireandAttrition
In1965,Westmorelandbegantoimplementasearch-and-destroystrategythatsentU.S.troopsoutintothe
fieldtofindandkillVietCongmembers.WestmorelandwasconfidentthatAmericantechnologywould
succeedinslowlywearingdowntheVietCongthroughawarofattrition—astrategyofextendedcombat
meanttoinflictsomanycasualtiesontheenemythatitcouldnolongercontinue.U.S.leadersagreed,
believingthatNorthVietnam’seconomycouldnotsustainaprolongedwareffort.
Inlightofthisnewstrategyoffightingawarofattrition,U.S.commanderswereinstructedtobeginkeeping
bodycountsofenemysoldierskilled.Althoughbodycountswereindeedtallied,theywereoftenexaggerated
andprovedwildlyinaccurate,asthebodiesofVietCongsoldiersoftenweredifficulttodistinguishfromthe
bodiesoffriendlySouthVietnamesesoldiers.
However,theVietCong’sguerrillatacticsfrustratedanddemoralizedU.S.troops,whileitsdispersed,largely
ruralpresenceleftAmericanbomberplaneswithfewtargets.TheUnitedStatesthereforeused
unconventionalweaponssuchasnapalm–ahighlyflammablejelliedsubstance--andtheherbicidedefoliant
AgentOrangebutstillmanagedtomakelittleheadway.
TheHoChiMinhTrail
Meanwhile,U.S.forcescontinuedtotrytocutoffVietCongsupplylinesthroughairpower.Theseefforts
expendedagreatdealoftimeandresources,buttheNorthVietnamesegovernmentprovedextremelysavvy
initsabilitytokeeptheVietCongsupplied.Ratherthanattempttosendmaterialsacross
theheavilyguardedDMZ(thedemilitarizedzonesurroundingtheborderbetweenNorth
andSouthVietnamatthe17thparallel),theysentsuppliesviatheHoChiMinhTrail,which
ranfromNorthVietnamthroughLaosandCambodiaintoSouthVietnam(seemapabove).
TroopsandsuppliesstreamedintoSouthVietnamviathetrailanddespiteintenseU.S.
bombingthroughout1965,thetrailneverclosedonce,noteventemporarily.
The“CredibilityGap”
Despitethenumeroussetbacks,JohnsonandotherU.S.officials,citingincreasedtroop
numbersandredefinedobjectives,againclaimedtobemakingheadwayinthewar.Many
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governmentofficialsreportedthattheNorthVietnameseweredeclining
instrengthandwereonthebrinkofdefeat.Photosandvideofootageof
deadAmericansoldiersinnewspapersandoneveningnewsprograms,
however,indicatedotherwise.Moreover,U.S.spendinginsupportofthe
warhadreachedrecordlevels,costingthegovernmentanestimated$3
billionamonth.Asaresult,manypeopleintheUnitedStatesbeganto
speakofa“credibilitygap”betweenwhatJohnsonandtheU.S.
governmentwastellingtheAmericanpeopleandwhatactuallywas
transpiringontheground.
KentState
TheTetOffensive
Shootings
In1968,theNorthVietnameseArmyandtheVietConglaunchedamassive
campaigncalledtheTetOffensive,attackingnearlythirtyU.S.targetsanddozensofothercitiesin
SouthVietnamatonce.AlthoughtheUnitedStatespushedbacktheoffensiveandwonatactical
victory,Americanmediacoveragecharacterizedtheconflictasadefeat,andU.S.publicsupportfor
thewarplummeted.MoraleamongU.S.troopsalsohitanall-timelow,manifestingitselftragicallyin
the1968MyLaiMassacre,inwhichfrustratedU.S.soldierskilledhundredsofunarmedVietnamese
civiliansinasmallvillage.
TheAntiwarMovement
Meanwhile,theantiwarmovementwithintheUnitedStatesgainedmomentumasstudentprotesters,
counterculturalhippies,andevenmanymainstreamAmericansdenouncedthewar.Protestsagainstthewar
andtheselectiveservicesystem--militarydraft--grewincreasinglyviolent,resultinginpolicebrutality
outsidetheDemocraticNationalConventionin1968andthedeathsoffourstudentsatKentStateUniversity
in1970whenOhioNationalGuardsmenfiredonacrowd.Despitetheprotests,Johnson’ssuccessorelectedin
1968,PresidentRichardM.Nixon,declaredthata“silentmajority”ofAmericansstillsupportedthewar.
VietnamizationandU.S.Withdrawal
Nonetheless,NixonpromotedapolicyofVietnamizationofthewar,promisingto
withdrawU.S.troopsgraduallyandhandovermanagementofthewarefforttotheSouth
Vietnamese.AlthoughNixonmadegoodonhispromise,healsoillegallyexpandedthe
geographicscopeofthewarbyauthorizingthebombingofVietCongsitesintheneutral
nationsofCambodiaandLaos,allwithouttheknowledgeorconsentoftheU.S.
“GeneralNguyenNgoc
Congress.Therevelationoftheseillegalactions,alongwiththepublicationofthesecret
LoanexecutingaViet
Congprisonerin
PentagonPapersinUSnewspapersin1971,causedanenormousscandalintheUnited
Saigon”
StatesandforcedNixontopushforapeacesettlement.Thesepapersrevealedthatthe
FamousTetOffensive
U.S.Army,aswellaspresidentsTruman,Eisenhower,Kennedy,andJohnson,had
Photo
authorizedanumberofcovertactionsthatincreasedU.S.involvementinVietnam
unbeknownsttotheAmericanpublic.Thegovernmenttriedtoblockthepublicationofthesepapersunder
theguiseof“nationalsecurity”,buttheSupremeCourtruledinNewYorkTimesv.USthatthegovernment
mustproveanimmediatethreattonationalsecuritytocensurethepapers.
Congress’sResponse
OutragedbytheunauthorizedinvasionofCambodiaandbythedoublescandalfromtheMyLaiMassacreand
thePentagonPapers,manyinCongresstookstepstoexertmorecontroloverthewarandtoappeasethe
equallyangrypublic.TheSenatevotedtorepealtheGulfofTonkinResolutiontoreducethemilitary’s
uncheckedspendingpower(althoughtheHouseofRepresentativesdidnotfollowsuit).Congressalsoreduced
thenumberofyearsdraftedsoldiersneededtoserveinthearmy.Finally,theTwenty-SixthAmendmentwas
ratifiedin1971tolowertheU.S.votingagefromtwenty-onetoeighteen,onthegroundsthattheyoungmen
servinginVietnamshouldhaveasayinwhichpoliticianswererunningthewar.
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TheWarPowersResolution
InJuly1973,CongressandtheAmericanpubliclearnedthefullextentofthesecretU.S.militarycampaignsin
Cambodia.TestimonyincongressionalhearingsrevealedthatNixonandthemilitaryhadbeensecretly
bombingCambodiaheavilysince1969,eventhoughthepresidentandJointChiefsofStaffhadrepeatedly
deniedthecharge.Whenthenewsbroke,NixonswitchedtacticsandbeganbombingCambodia
openlydespiteextremepublicdisproval.
Angry,CongressmusteredenoughvotestopasstheNovember1973WarPowersResolution
overNixon’sveto.Theresolutionrestrictedpresidentialpowersduringwartimebyrequiringthe
presidenttonotifyCongressuponlaunchinganyU.S.militaryactionabroad.IfCongressdidnot
approveoftheaction,itwouldhavetoconcludewithinsixtytoninetydays.Ineffect,thisact
madethepresidentaccountabletoCongressforhisactionsabroad.Congressalsoendedthe
Nixon and Kissinger
draftin1973andstipulatedthatthemilitaryhenceforthconsistsolelyofpaidvolunteers.Both
theWarPowersResolutionandtheconversiontoanall-volunteerarmyhelpedquietantiwarprotesters.
TheCease-fireandtheFallofSaigon
AftersecretnegotiationsbetweenU.S.emissaryHenryA.KissingerandNorthVietnameserepresentativeLe
DucThoin1972,NixonengagedindiplomaticmaneuveringwithChinaand
theUSSR—andsteppedupbombingofNorthVietnam—topressuretheNorth
Vietnameseintoasettlement.TheParisPeaceAccordswerefinallysignedin
January1973,andthelastU.S.militarypersonnelleftVietnaminMarch1973.
Underthetermsoftheagreement,Nixonpledgedtowithdrawallremaining
militarypersonnelfromVietnamandallowthetensofthousandsofNVA
Evacuating civilians after the
troopsinSouthVietnamtoremainthere,despitethefactthattheycontrolleda
fall of Saigon
quarterofSouthVietnameseterritory.However,Nixonpromisedtointerveneif
NorthVietnammovedagainsttheSouth.Inexchange,NorthVietnampromisedthatelectionswouldbeheld
todeterminethefateoftheentirecountry.AlthoughNixoninsistedthattheagreementbrought“peacewith
honor,”SouthVietnameseleaderscomplainedthatthetermsamountedtolittlemorethanasurrenderfor
SouthVietnam.
TheU.S.governmentcontinuedtofundtheSouthVietnamesearmy,butthisfundingquicklydwindled.
Meanwhile,asPresidentNixonbecameembroiledintheWatergatescandalthatledtohisresignationin
August1974,NorthVietnameseforcessteppeduptheirattacksontheSouthandfinallylaunchedanall-out
offensiveinthespringof1975.OnApril30,1975,theSouthVietnamesecapitalofSaigonfelltotheNorth
Vietnamese,whoreunitedthecountryunderCommunistruleastheSocialistRepublicofVietnam,endingthe
VietnamWar.
AdaptedandEditedbyCarolinaK-12
Sources:
http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/vietnamwar/summary.html
http://www.vn-tours.com/images/tour/map/vietnam-asia-map.gif
http://img.timeinc.net/time/time100/images/main_hochiminh.jpg
http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/usa/images-3/vietnam-war-monk-selfimmolation.jpg
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Name_____________________________________
StudentNotes:AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
WhywasHoChiMinhfightingtheFrench?Whatwasthenameofhisorganization?
WhathappenedatDienBienPhu?
HowdidtheUnitedStates’foreignpolicyrelatetoanincreasedpresenceinVietnam?
WhatgrouporganizedresistancetoDiem’sregime?Listbothnamesfortheorganization.
WhatwastheGulfofTonkinresolution?Whywasitpassed?Whyisitsignificant?
WhatwasthepurposeofOperationRollingThunder?Diditwork?
WhatstrategiesdidtheUnitedStatesuseinVietnam?Whydidtheybelievetheywouldwork?
WhywastheHoChiMinhTrailsignificant?
WhatwastheTetOffensive?HowisitrelatedtotheCreditabilityGap?
WhatwasVietnamization?
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StudentNotes:AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar
AnswerKey
1.
2.
3.
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5.
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8.
WhywasHoChiMinhfightingtheFrench?Whatwasthenameofhisorganization?
HoChiMinhwantedtoremoveFrenchcontrolandinfluencefromVietnam,sotheVietnamesecouldrulethemselves.
HisorganizationwascalledtheVietMinh.
WhathappenedatDienBienPhu?
TheFrenchweredefeatedbyHoChiMinh’sforcesandforcedtoleaveVietnam.
HowdidtheUnitedStates’foreignpolicyrelatetoanincreasedpresenceinVietnam?
TheDominoTheorystressedthatifonenationfelltocommunism,thesurroundingnationswouldalsofall.HoChi
MinhwasextremelypopularinVietnamafterdefeatingtheFrenchandheprobablywouldhavewonelectionsto
unifyingthecountryunderacommunistgovernment.TopreventVietnamfallingtocommunismunderHoChiMinh,
theUnitedStatessentlargeamountsofaidandadvisors.Eventually,thispolicyledtoanincreaseintheamountof
UStroopsinVietnam.
WhatgrouporganizedresistancetoDiem’sregime?Listbothnamesfortheorganization.
TheNationalLiberationFrontconsistedofsupportersofHoChiMinhstationedinSouthVietnamthatcarriedout
variousresistanceactivities.Theyaremorecommonlyknownasthe“VietCong.”
WhatwastheGulfofTonkinResolution?Whywasitpassed?Whyisitsignificant?
TheGulfofTonkinResolutionwasacongressionalauthorizationthatallowedPresidentJohnsontogreatlyexpandthe
warinVietnam.ItwaspassedinresponsetotheGulfofTonkinIncident.Itissignificantbecauseitgreatlyexpanded
PresidentialWarPowersandallowedJohnsontoescalatethewarwithoutoversightfromCongress.
WhatwasthepurposeofOperationRollingThunder?Diditwork?
ThepurposeofOperationRollingThunderwastobombtheN.Vietnameseintosubmissionandtodemonstratetothe
SouthVietnamesethattheUSwasseriousaboutsupportingitscause.Itdidnotwork,itactuallystrengthenedthe
resolveoftheNorthandincreasethenumberofpeoplesidingwithHoChiMinh.
WhatstrategiesdidtheUnitedStatesuseinVietnam?Whydidtheybelievetheywouldwork?
Onestrategywas“SearchandDestroy”–UStroopswouldgointothecountrysidetofindandkillVietCongmembers.
Anotherstrategywasattrition–extendcombattoinflictthemostamountofenemiescasualtiesthusforcingthemto
surrender.TheybelieveditwouldworkbecausetheyfeltthatN.Vietnam’seconomycouldnotsustainaprotracted
wareffort.
WhywastheHoChiMinhTrailsignificant?
ItallowedtheNorthtoresupplytheVietCongintheSouthdespiteUSeffortstostopthetrail.
9.
WhatwastheTetOffensive?HowdoyouthinkitisrelatedtotheCreditabilityGap?
AmassiveNorthVietnamesesurpriseattackagainstvariousAmericanandSouthVietnamesetargets.Itwasa
militaryfailurefortheNorthVietnamese,butithelpedturnedAmericansupportagainstthewar.Manygovernment
officialsissuedreportsthattheNorthVietnamesewereonthebrinkofdefeat,buttheTetOffensiveprovedtheywere
not.
10. WhatwasVietnamization?
PresidentNixon’splantowithdrawU.S.troopsgraduallyandhandovermanagementofthewarefforttotheSouth
Vietnamese.
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TimeLineoftheVietnamWar
ByDavidWalbert,LearnNC
TeacherNote:Stripsshouldbecutapartpriortoclass
1858–1884
VietnambecomesaFrenchcolony,calledIndochina.
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1930
TheIndochineseCommunistPartyisformed.HoChiMinhisafounder.
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September1940
JapaninvadesVietnam.
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May1941
HoChiMinhestablishestheVietMinh(theLeaguefortheIndependenceofVietnam).
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September2,1945
JapansurrenderstoAlliedforces.HoChiMinhdeclaresVietnamanindependentnation,the
DemocraticRepublicofVietnam.ButvictoriousFrancereassumescolonialauthority.
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1946
TheFirstIndochinaWarbegins,astheVietMinhbeginfightingagainstFrenchcolonialrule.Overthe
courseofthewar,theygrowfromsmallguerillabandsintoawell-organizedandequippedarmy.
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1950
ChinabeginsprovidingtheVietMinhwithmilitaryadvisorsandweapons.Inresponse,theUnited
Statespledges$15millioninmilitaryaidtoFrance.
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1954
TheVietMinhdefeattheFrencharmyintheBattleofDienBienPhu,forcingthesurrenderofmostof
theoccupyingtroops.OnJuly21,FrancesignstheGenevaAccord,acease-firethatleadstothe
peacefulwithdrawalofFrenchtroopsfromSoutheastAsia.Vietnamistemporarilydividedbetween
NorthandSouthatthe17thparallel(17degreesnorthlatitude).TheVietMinharetowithdrawnorth
oftheline,whiletroopssupportingFrancearetowithdrawtothesouth.Electionsaretobeheldin
1956toreunifythecountry.
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1955
OnOctober26,SouthVietnamdeclaresitselftheRepublicofVietnam,withitscapitalatSaigonand
NgoDinhDiemelectedpresidentinriggedelections.DiemarguesthatSouthVietnamwasnotaparty
totheGenevaAccords,andcancelsthe1956elections.TheNorthremainsunderthecontrolofHo’s
Communists,withitsgovernmentatHanoi.
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1956
TheU.S.militarybeginstrainingSouthVietnameseforces.
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1957
CommunistguerillasbeginaninsurgencyinSouthVietnam,assassinatingmorethan400South
Vietnameseofficials.Withinayear,CommunistforceshavesettledalongtheMekongDelta.
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1960
TheHanoigovernmentformstheNationalLiberationFront(NLF)inSouthVietnam.Diemcallsthe
grouptheVietcong.
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1963
Diem,aCatholic,hasbeenintolerantofotherreligionsandhastriedtosilenceprotestsbyBuddhist
monks.Inresponse,monksprotestbysettingthemselvesonfireinpublicplaces.
InNovember,withthetacitapprovaloftheU.S.,membersoftheSouthVietnamesemilitary
overthrowDiemandexecutehim.
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1964
GeneralNguyenKhanhtakespowerinSouthVietnaminanothercoup.
OnAugust2threeNorthVietnameseboatsallegedlyfiretorpedoesattheU.S.S.Maddox,adestroyer
locatedin
theinternationalwatersoftheTonkinGulf.AsecondattackwasallegedtohavetakenplaceonAugust
4,butgovernmentdocumentslatershowedthatnosecondincidenttookplace.OnAugust7,Congress
passestheGulfofTonkinResolution,authorizingPresidentLyndonJohnsonto“takeallnecessary
measurestorepelanyarmedattackagainstforcesoftheUnitedStatesandtopreventfurther
aggression.”
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1965
TheU.S.beginssustainedbombingofNorthVietnam,calledOperationRollingThunder.Thebombing
willcontinueforthreeyears.
InMarch,thefirstU.S.combattroopsarriveinVietnam.Byyear’send,morethan200,000U.S.troops
arestationedthere.
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1966
Thefirstprotestsagainstthewarareheld,includingaprotestbyveteransofWorldWarsIandIIin
NewYorkCity.
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1967
SecretaryofDefenseRobertMcNamaracallsthebombingcampaignineffective.TheU.S.launches
OperationCedarFalls,agroundwareffortinvolving30,000U.S.andSouthVietnamesetroopsto
destroyVietcongoperationsandsupplysitesnearSaigon.Theydiscoveramassivesystemof
undergroundtunnelsthathadservedasheadquartersfortheVietcong.
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1968
InJanuary,ontheVietnameselunarnewyear(Tet),theNorthVietnameseandVietcongforceslaunch
anattackononehundredSouthVietnamesecitiesandtowns.Withindays,U.S.forcesrecapturemost
areas.The“TetOffensive”isamilitarydefeatforCommunists,butisapoliticalvictory,asAmericans
beginquestioningtheU.S.military’sconductofthewar.
OnMarch16,U.S.soldierskillhundredsofVietnameseciviliansinthetownofMaiLai.
Hispopularityplummeting,PresidentJohnsonannouncesthathewillnotseekre-election.
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1968(cont.)
InJuly,GeneralWilliamWestmoreland,commanderofU.S.forcesinVietnam,isreplacedbyGeneral
CreightonAbrams.
RichardNixoniselectedPresidentinNovember.
ByDecember,U.S.trooplevelsinVietnamreach540,000.
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1969
PresidentNixonapproves“OperationBreakfast,”covertbombingofCommunistsupplyroutesand
basecampsinCambodia.Thebombingcontinuesfor14monthswithoutknowledgeofCongressorthe
Americanpublic.
Nixon’sSecretaryofDefense,MelvinLaird,announcesapolicyof“Vietnamization”inwhichtheU.S.
willgraduallyshifttheburdenofthewartotheSouthVietnamesearmy.
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1969(cont.)
HoChiMinhdiesonNovember3.
OnNovember13,theAmericanpubliclearnsoftheMaiLaimassacre.Thenewsfurtherturnsopinion
againstthewar.TheArmyhasalreadychargedLietenantWilliamCalley,wholedtheattack,with
murder.Calleywillbeconvictedayearlater.
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1970
OnApril30,NixonannouncesthatU.S.troopswillattackenemylocationsinCambodia.Thenews
sparksprotestsnationwide,especiallyoncollegecampuses.
InMay,OhioNationalGuardsmenopenfireonacrowdofstudentprotestersatKentStateUniversity,
killingfourstudentsandwoundingeightothers.Severaloftheprotestershadbeenhurlingrocksand
emptyteargascanistersattheGuardsmen.
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1972
TheNorthVietnamesecrossthedemilitarizedzone(DMZ)atthe17thparalleltoattackSouthVietnam
inwhatwillbeknownastheEasterOffensive.
Nixonannouncesfurthertroopreductions.
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1973
OnJanuary27,U.S.SecretaryofStateHenryKissingerandVietcongleaderLeDucThosigntheParis
PeaceAccords,animmediatecease-firethatwillallowforU.S.withdrawal.KissingerandLeare
awardedtheNobelPeacePrizelaterintheyear.
OnMarch29,thelastU.S.troopsleaveVietnam.
TheU.S.CongressabolishesthedraftinfavorofanallvolunteerArmy.
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1974
NorthVietnamannouncesarenewalofthewar.
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1975
NorthVietnamlaunchesamassiveassaultonSouthVietnam.PresidentGeraldFordannouncesthat
fortheU.S.,theVietnamWaris“finished.”OnApril30,SouthVietnamsurrenderstoCommunist
forces,andthelastAmericansevacuateSaigon.
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1976–1980
VietnamisunifiedunderCommunistruleastheSocialistRepublicofVietnam.Thenewgovernment
imprisonsasmanyasamillionpeoplewithouttrialforsupportingthepreviousregime.Thousandsof
Vietnameserefugees,dubbed“boatpeople,”fleeincrowdedandricketyboats,hopingtobe
permittedtoreachothercountries.
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1982
TheVietnamVeteransMemorialisdedicatedinWashington,D.C.
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1997
TheUnitedStatesandVietnamexchangeambassadorsforthefirsttimesincethewar,beginninga
neweraofcooperationbetweenthetwonations.
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Name:______________________________________
Vietnam–IllustratedTimelineReview
Event&Date
Description/SignificanceoftheEvent
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AfghanistanhauntedbyghostofVietnam
ByEdHornick,CNN
Washington(CNN)--WhilePresidentObama'swarcouncildeliberatesitsstrategytowardAfghanistan,the
ghostofVietnamisofteninvokedasawarning.
Afghanistan,U.S.andcoalitionforceshavebeenfightinginAfghanistanforeightyears,anduntilrecentlythe
warhadbeenovershadowedbytheoneinIraq.InMarch,AfghanistanwillbecomeAmerica'slongestwar,
surpassingtheVietnamWar.
TheVietnamWar,whichcost58,000Americanlives,istheonemostofteninvokedwhenU.S.troopsare
committedoverseas.
AlthoughsomesayAfghanistanis"Obama'sVietnam,"expertssaythereareseveralmajorsimilaritiesand
differencesbetweenthetwowars.
EricMargolis,aveteranjournalistandformerArmysoldierwhoservedduringtheVietnamWar,saidthe
biggestproblemtheUnitedStatesisfacingnow--asinVietnam--isfightingthemostlypoor,ruralinsurgents
wholiveamongAfghans.
"Itmakesitverydifficulttodrive[insurgents]out,becausetheycanstaythereforever....They'reathome.
Whenweattackvillageswheretheyare,wekillalotofcivilians,causinganuproarandturningthepeople
moreagainstus."
SteveClemonsofthenonpartisanNewAmericaFoundationsaidoneofthefactorsintheSoviet-AfghanWar--
whichpittedtheSoviet-backedDemocraticRepublicofAfghanistanwiththeSovietmilitaryagainsttheIslamist
MujahideenResistance--wasthebrutalattacksinflictedonbothfightersandciviliansbytheSoviets.
"[There]wasthesenseofoutrageandgrievanceatsomeofthethingsthattheyhaddoneandthetriggeringof
adeeplyfeltemotionalantagonismtotheSovietefforttodominateandcolonizeAfghanistanamongthe
Pashtun."
HeworriesthatiftheUnitedStatesfailstofocusonamorehumanitariananddiplomaticapproach,Americans
willfallintothesametraptheSovietsfaced,whichultimatelyledtothemleavingthecountrydefeated.
"IthinkoneofthethingsI'mconcernedaboutiswhetherornotwe'retriggeringthosesamekindofemotions
amongthePashtunstoday.Andbelieveme,thePashtunsdon'tcarewhetherthey're[goingafter]Americans
orgoingaftertheSoviets.Ifyoubegintothreatentheirownperceptionoftheirownindependence,thenyou
turnPashtunsintoTaliban."
PeterBeinart,whorecentlywroteanarticlecalled"BurytheVietnamAnalogy"onTheDailyBeast.com,hassaid
thereisarealsenseofnationalidentityforAfghanisthatwasn'tseeninSouthVietnam.
"AfghanistanisarealcountrythatAfghansgenerallybelievein.TheyhaveanAfghannationalidentity.That
didn'texistinSouthVietnam,"hesaid,addingthattheTalibanismuchlesspopularinAfghanistanthanthe
VietCongwasinSouthVietnam.
InVietnam,theCommunistscontrolledthenationalistmovementandhadthenationalistlegitimacy.The
Taliban,meanwhile,isnotasorganizedastheVietCongandNorthVietnamesearmywere.
ButthereisevidencetheTalibanischanging,asshownbyaseriesofrecentwell-coordinatedattackson
remoteAfghanistanoutposts.
JournalistMargolisalsocomparedthegovernmentofAfghanistantothegovernmentofSouthVietnam.
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"Inbothcases,thegovernmentofSaigon[SouthVietnam]andKabul[Afghanistan]areheavilyinfluencedby
minorities.Wehavemadeourenemies[among]theethnicmajorityinAfghanistanwhoarethePashtuns--
prettywellcutthemoutofpower."
TherecentAfghanistanelectionsreceivedworldwideattentionforclaimsoffraudbytheincumbent,President
HamidKarzai,whoreportedlywontheelection.Afterfierceinternationalcriticism,Karzairecentlyagreedtoa
runoff.
Anotherdifferencebetweenthetwowarscomesintermsoftroopnumbers,Beinartsaid.
"Ithinkwhat'sclearisthattheresourcesweputinAfghanistanhavebeenabsolutelyminusculecomparedto
VietnamandcomparedtoIraq....In1968,wehadover500,000U.S.troopsinSouthVietnam.Wehadupuntil
acoupleofyearsagoonlyabout20,000[inAfghanistan]....Sowhat'sclearis,wehaven'tmadeanywherenear
thekindofcommitmenttoAfghanistanaswemadetoVietnam."
Inthepastmonth,Obama'stopcommanderinAfghanistan,Gen.StanleyMcChrystal,issuedareporttothe
presidentandtheadministration,outliningtheproblemsfacingthenationandwhatresourceswillbeneeded.
Hisprescription:moretroops--upwardsof40,000bysomeestimates--withthegoalfocusingonsecuring
Afghantownsandcitiesincertainareas.
ACNN/OpinionResearchCorp.poll,takenOctober16-18,showed59percentofAmericansopposedsending
moretroopsintothecountry.Thesamepollfoundthat52percentofAmericansconsiderthewarin
AfghanistanhasturnedintoanotherVietnamWarsituation,while46sayit'snot.
Source:http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/27/afghanistan.vietnam/index.html?iref=allsearch
Similaritiesb/tVietnam&Afghanistan
Differencesb/tVietnam&Afghanistan
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