AnOverviewoftheVietnamWar
Overview
Inthislesson,studentswillbeintroducedtotheVietnamWarthroughasimulationregardingtheanxietyof
combatandwillthenreceiveanoverviewofthewarviaateacherPowerPointpresentationorlecture
(provided),oratextbookreadingfollowedbyclassdiscussion.Studentswillthencreateanillustrated
timelinepicturingtheprominenteventsfromtheyearsofconflict.
Grade
8
NCEssentialStandardsfor8thGradeSocialStudies
• 8.H.1.1-Constructcharts,graphs,andhistoricalnarrativestoexplainparticulareventsorissues.
• 8.H.1.5-Analyzetherelationshipbetweenhistoricalcontextanddecision-making.
• 8.H.2.1-Explaintheimpactofeconomic,political,social,andmilitaryconflicts(e.g.war,slavery,states’
rightsandcitizenshipandimmigrationpolicies)onthedevelopmentofNorthCarolinaandtheUnited
States.
• 8.H.2.3-Summarizetheroleofdebate,compromise,andnegotiationduringsignificantperiodsinthe
historyofNorthCarolinaandtheUnitedStates.
Materials
• Scrapmaterialthatcanbeusedasblindfolds
• ChartpaperandPost-itnotes
• Teacherreferencedocument:“AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar”,attached
• Optional:“AnOverviewoftheVietnamWar,”PowerPoint;availableintheConsortium’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?
Duration
• 60minutes
Procedure
BewareofLandmines!(OptionalWarm-UpSimulation)
1. Atthebeginningofclass,breakstudentsupintopartnersandhavethemchoosetobeAorB.Instructthe
A’stolineupononesideoftheroomsidebyside.Tellthemtoturntheirbacktothecenteroftheroom
andusetheprovidedmaterialtoblindfoldthemselves.
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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
theirPost-Itnotestothewordweb.Aftertheallottedtime,discusswhatstudentshaveposted.Dispel
anymisinformationbeforeintroducingstudentstoageneraloverviewoftheconflict.
8. SincetherearenumerouscomponentstotheVietnamWarera,teachersshouldchoosewhichaspectsof
thewartohighlightwiththeirstudents.Optionsforprovidinganoverviewofthewarinclude:
• UsetheConsortium’sPowerPoint,“AnOverviewoftheVietnamWar,”whichcanbefoundinthe
DatabaseofK-12Resources(k12database.unc.edu)[email protected].
ThisPPTprovidesageneraloverviewofallmajoraspectsoftheconflict;teachersshouldpickand
choosewhichcomponentsofthepresentationtheywishtosharewithstudents.
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•
•
Deliveraninteractivelecturetostudentsbasedontheattachedteacherresourcedocument,which
offersacondensedsummaryoftheeventsoftheVietnamconflict.Teacherscanalsoprovidethe
attacheddiscussionquestionsforstudentstofilloutthroughoutthelecture.
ProvideanintroductoryreadingtostudentsregardingVietnam,suchastheinformationprovidedin
their8thgradetextbook.Gooverthereadingwithstudentsbyaskingclarifyingquestionstoensure
studentsgainabasicfoundationofknowledgeregardingVietnam.
9. 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
10. 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.
11. Encouragestudentstobecreativewhilealsobeinghistoricallyaccurateandrespectfultothetimeperiod.
Teachersshouldalsoletstudentsknowwhattypeofartisacceptable.Sincecertainaspectsofthe
Vietnamwereveryviolent,itisrecommendedteachersencouragestudentstorefrainfromcreating
particularlygruesomeartwork,andratherleantowardssymbolism.
12. Finally,letstudentsknowthatuponcompletion,theirworkwillbehunginchronologicalorderwiththe
workoftheirclassmates,creatingalarge,illustratedtimelineofVietnam.Allowstudentstoaskquestions
andgivethemapproximately15-20minutestoworkontheirassignment.(
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13. Oncestudentshavefinished,assisttheclassinhandingtheirtimelinearoundtheroominchronological
order.Provideeachstudentwithadouble-sidedcopyoftheattached“IllustratedTimelineReview.”
Teacherscaneitherhavestudentscirculatethroughouttheroomandtakenotesastheyreviewtheart
work,orplacestudentsintosmallgroupsandcirculatetheartworkthroughouteachgroup,allowing
studentstoremainseatedwhiletakingtheirnotes.(Teachersshouldjustensurethetimelinecirculatesin
order.)
14. 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?
Ø Optional:Asahomeworkassignment,havestudentsreadtheattachedarticlefromCNN,“Afghanistan
hauntedbyghostofVietnam.”Instructstudentstofilloutthechartatthebottomofthearticleasthey
read,notingthesimilaritiesbetweenVietnamandAfghanistanandthedifferencesbetweenthetwo.Tell
studentstheinformationtheychartcanbefromthereading,butalsofrompriorknowledgeorother
sources.Teacherswhoassignthereadingshouldreservetimethefollowingclassperiodtodiscussthe
articlewithstudents.
AdditionalActivities
• TeachtheConsortium’slesson,“RememberingVietnam:TheVietnamWarMemorial,”availableinthe
[email protected].
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TEACHERREFERENCEDOCUMENT:
AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar
ImperialismandColonialism
TheVietnamWarhasrootsinVietnam’scenturiesofdominationbyimperial
andcolonialpowers—firstChina,whichruledancientVietnam,andthen
France,whichtookcontrolofVietnaminthelate1800sandestablished
FrenchIndochina.Intheearly1900s,nationalistmovementsemergedin
Vietnam,demandingmoreself-governanceandlessFrenchinfluence.The
mostprominentofthesewasledbyCommunistleaderHoChiMinh,who
foundedamilitantnationalistorganizationcalledtheVietMinh.
TheFirstIndochinaWar
DuringWorldWarII,whenFrancewasoccupiedbyNaziGermany,itlostitsfootholdinVietnam,andJapantookcontrol
ofthecountry.TheVietMinhresistedtheseJapaneseoppressorsandextendeditspowerbase
throughoutVietnam.WhenJapansurrenderedattheendofWorldWarIIin1945,HoChiMinh’sforces
tookthecapitalofHanoianddeclaredVietnamtobeanindependentcountry,theDemocraticRepublic
ofVietnam.
FrancerefusedtorecognizeHo’sdeclarationandreturnedtoVietnam,drivingHo’sCommunistforcesinto
HoChiMinh
northernVietnam.HoappealedforaidfromtheUnitedStates,butbecausetheUnitedStateswas
embroiledintheescalatingColdWarwiththeCommunistUSSR,itdistrustedHo’sCommunistleanings
andaidedtheFrenchinstead.FightingbetweenHo’sforcesandtheFrenchcontinuedinthisFirstIndochinaWaruntil
1954,whenahumiliatingdefeatatDienBienPhupromptedFrancetoseekapeacesettlement.
DividedVietnam
TheGenevaAccordsof1954declaredacease-fireanddividedVietnamofficiallyintoNorthVietnam(underHoandhis
Communistforces)andSouthVietnam(underaFrench-backedemperor).Thedividinglinewassetatthe17thparallel
andwassurroundedbyademilitarizedzone,orDMZ.TheGenevaAccordsstipulatedthatthedividewastemporaryand
thatVietnamwastobereunifiedunderfreeelectionstobeheldin1956.
TheColdWarandtheDominoTheory
Atthispoint,theUnitedStates’ColdWarforeignpolicybegantoplayamajorpartin
Vietnam.U.S.policyatthetimewasdominatedbythedominotheory,whichbelieved
thatthe“fall”ofNorthVietnamtoCommunismmighttriggerallofSoutheastAsiatofall,
settingoffasortofCommunistchainreaction.WithinayearoftheGenevaAccords,the
UnitedStatesthereforebegantooffersupporttotheanti-CommunistpoliticianNgoDinh
Diem.WithU.S.assistance,DiemtookcontroloftheSouthVietnamesegovernmentin
1955anddeclaredtheRepublicofVietnam.DuetothepopularityofHoChiMinh
throughoutVietnam,Diempromptlycanceledtheelectionsthathadbeenscheduledfor
1956.
TheDiemRegime
Diem’sregimeprovedcorrupt,oppressive,andextremelyunpopular.Hewasso
Self–
unpopularthatsomeBuddhistmonksprotestedhisregimeusingself-immolation–setting
Immolation
oneselfonfire.Nonetheless,theUnitedStatescontinuedtopropDiemup,
fearfuloftheincreasingCommunistresistanceactivityinSouthVietnam.
ThisresistanceagainstDiem’sregimewasorganizedbytheHoChiMinh–backedNationalLiberation
Front,whichbecamemorecommonlyknownastheVietCong.
In1962,U.S.presidentJohnF.KennedysentAmerican“militaryadvisors”toVietnamtohelptrainthe
SouthVietnamesearmy,theARVN,butquicklyrealizedthattheDiemregimewasunsalvageable.
Therefore,in1963,theUnitedStatesbackedacoupthatoverthrewDiemandinstalledanewleader.
ThenewU.S.-backedleadersprovedjustascorruptandineffective.
JohnsonandU.S.Escalation
Kennedy’ssuccessor,LyndonB.Johnson,pledgedtohonorKennedy’scommitmentsbuthopedto
keepU.S.involvementinVietnamtoaminimum.HekeptKennedy’sSecretaryofDefense,RobertMcNamara,but
5
replacedthepreviousAmericanmilitarycommanderwithWilliamC. Westmoreland–aU.S.generalwhoadvocated
aggressivestrategiesagainstVietCongandNVAusinglargenumbersofU.S.forces.AfterNorthVietnameseforces
allegedlyattackedU.S.NavyshipsduringtheGulfofTonkinIncidentin1964,Johnsonwasgivencarteblancheintheform
oftheGulfofTonkinResolution.ThisresolutionallowedJohnson“totakeallnecessarymeasureto
repelanyarmedattackagainsttheforcesofUnitedStatesandtopreventfurtheraggression;”this
greatlyexpandedhispresidentialpower.WiththefreehandrecentlyprovidedbyCongress,Johnson
orderedtheU.S.AirForceandU.S.NavytobeginanintenseseriesofairstrikescalledOperation
RollingThunder.HehopedthatthebombingcampaignwoulddemonstratetotheSouthVietnamese
theU.S.commitmenttotheircauseanditsresolvetohaltthespreadofCommunism.Ironically,the
airraidsseemedonlytoincreasethenumberofVietCongandNVA(NorthVietnameseArmy)attacks.
Johnson’s“Americanization”ofthewarledtoapresenceofnearly400,000U.S.troopsinVietnamby
theendof1966.
Vietnamtakesitstoll
onPresident
QuagmireandAttrition
Johnson
In1965,Westmorelandbegantoimplementasearch-and-destroystrategythatsentU.S.troopsout
intothefieldtofindandkillVietCongmembers.WestmorelandwasconfidentthatAmericantechnologywouldsucceed
inslowlywearingdowntheVietCongthroughawarofattrition—astrategyofextendedcombatmeanttoinflictsomany
casualtiesontheenemythatitcouldnolongercontinue.U.S.leadersagreed,believingthatNorthVietnam’seconomy
couldnotsustainaprolongedwareffort.
Inlightofthisnewstrategyoffightingawarofattrition,U.S.commanderswereinstructedtobeginkeepingbodycounts
ofenemysoldierskilled.Althoughbodycountswereindeedtallied,theywereoftenexaggeratedandprovedwildly
inaccurate,asthebodiesofVietCongsoldiersoftenweredifficulttodistinguishfromthebodiesoffriendlySouth
Vietnamesesoldiers.
However,theVietCong’sguerrillatacticsfrustratedanddemoralizedU.S.troops,whileitsdispersed,largelyrural
presenceleftAmericanbomberplaneswithfewtargets.TheUnitedStatesthereforeusedunconventionalweaponssuch
asnapalm–ahighlyflammablejelliedsubstance--andtheherbicidedefoliantAgentOrangebutstillmanagedtomake
littleheadway.
TheHoChiMinhTrail
Meanwhile,U.S.forcescontinuedtotrytocutoffVietCongsupplylinesthroughairpower.These
effortsexpendedagreatdealoftimeandresources,buttheNorthVietnamesegovernment
provedextremelysavvyinitsabilitytokeeptheVietCongsupplied.Ratherthanattempttosend
materialsacrosstheheavilyguardedDMZ(thedemilitarizedzonesurroundingtheborderbetween
NorthandSouthVietnamatthe17thparallel),theysentsuppliesviatheHoChiMinhTrail,which
ranfromNorthVietnamthroughLaosandCambodiaintoSouthVietnam(seemapabove).Troops
andsuppliesstreamedintoSouthVietnamviathetrailanddespiteintenseU.S.bombing
throughout1965,thetrailneverclosedonce,noteventemporarily.
“GeneralNguyenNgoc
LoanexecutingaViet
Congprisonerin
The“CredibilityGap”
Saigon”
Despitethenumeroussetbacks,JohnsonandotherU.S.officials,citingincreasedtroopnumbers
FamousTetOffensive
Photo
andredefinedobjectives,againclaimedtobemakingheadwayinthewar.Manygovernment
officialsreportedthattheNorthVietnameseweredeclininginstrengthandwereonthebrinkofdefeat.Photosand
videofootageofdeadAmericansoldiersinnewspapersandoneveningnewsprograms,however,indicatedotherwise.
Moreover,U.S.spendinginsupportofthewarhadreachedrecordlevels,costingthegovernmentanestimated$3billion
amonth.Asaresult,manypeopleintheUnitedStatesbegantospeakofa“credibilitygap”betweenwhatJohnsonand
theU.S.governmentwastellingtheAmericanpeopleandwhatactuallywastranspiringontheground.
TheTetOffensive
In1968,theNorthVietnameseArmyandtheVietConglaunchedamassivecampaigncalledtheTet
Offensive,attackingnearlythirtyU.S.targetsanddozensofothercitiesinSouthVietnamatonce.Although
theUnitedStatespushedbacktheoffensiveandwonatacticalvictory,Americanmediacoverage
characterizedtheconflictasadefeat,andU.S.publicsupportforthewarplummeted.MoraleamongU.S.
troopsalsohitanall-timelow,manifestingitselftragicallyinthe1968MyLaiMassacre,inwhichfrustratedU.S.soldiers
killedhundredsofunarmedVietnameseciviliansinasmallvillage.
TheAntiwarMovement
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Meanwhile,theantiwarmovementwithintheUnitedStatesgainedmomentumasstudentprotesters,countercultural
hippies,andevenmanymainstreamAmericansdenouncedthewar.Protestsagainstthewarandtheselectiveservice
system--militarydraft--grewincreasinglyviolent,resultinginpolicebrutalityoutsidetheDemocraticNational
Conventionin1968andthedeathsoffourstudentsatKentStateUniversityin1970whenOhioNationalGuardsmen
firedonacrowd.Despitetheprotests,Johnson’ssuccessorelectedin1968,PresidentRichardM.Nixon,declaredthata
“silentmajority”ofAmericansstillsupportedthewar.
VietnamizationandU.S.Withdrawal
Nonetheless,NixonpromotedapolicyofVietnamizationofthewar,promisingtowithdrawU.S.troopsgraduallyand
handovermanagementofthewarefforttotheSouthVietnamese.AlthoughNixonmadegoodonhispromise,healso
illegallyexpandedthegeographicscopeofthewarbyauthorizingthebombingofVietCongsitesintheneutralnationsof
CambodiaandLaos,allwithouttheknowledgeorconsentoftheU.S.Congress.Therevelationoftheseillegalactions,
alongwiththepublicationofthesecretPentagonPapersinUSnewspapersin1971,causedanenormousscandalinthe
UnitedStatesandforcedNixontopushforapeacesettlement.ThesepapersrevealedthattheU.S.Army,aswellas
presidentsTruman,Eisenhower,Kennedy,andJohnson,hadauthorizedanumberofcovertactionsthatincreasedU.S.
involvementinVietnamunbeknownsttotheAmericanpublic.Thegovernmenttriedtoblockthepublicationofthese
papersundertheguiseof“nationalsecurity”,buttheSupremeCourtruledinNewYorkTimesv.USthatthegovernment
mustproveanimmediatethreattonationalsecuritytocensurethepapers.
Congress’sResponse
OutragedbytheunauthorizedinvasionofCambodiaandbythedoublescandalfromtheMyLaiMassacreandthe
PentagonPapers,manyinCongresstookstepstoexertmorecontroloverthewarandtoappease
theequallyangrypublic.TheSenatevotedtorepealtheGulfofTonkinResolutiontoreducethe
military’suncheckedspendingpower(althoughtheHouseofRepresentativesdidnotfollowsuit).
Congressalsoreducedthenumberofyearsdraftedsoldiersneededtoserveinthearmy.Finally,the
Twenty-SixthAmendmentwasratifiedin1971tolowertheU.S.votingagefromtwenty-oneto
eighteen,onthegroundsthattheyoungmenservinginVietnamshouldhaveasayinwhich
politicianswererunningthewar.
Nixonand
Kissinger
TheWarPowersResolution
InJuly1973,CongressandtheAmericanpubliclearnedthefullextentofthesecretU.S.military
campaignsinCambodia.TestimonyincongressionalhearingsrevealedthatNixonandthemilitaryhadbeensecretly
bombingCambodiaheavilysince1969,eventhoughthepresidentandJointChiefsofStaffhadrepeatedlydeniedthe
charge.Whenthenewsbroke,NixonswitchedtacticsandbeganbombingCambodiaopenlydespiteextremepublic
disproval.
Angry,CongressmusteredenoughvotestopasstheNovember1973WarPowersResolutionoverNixon’sveto.The
resolutionrestrictedpresidentialpowersduringwartimebyrequiringthepresidenttonotifyCongressuponlaunchingany
U.S.militaryactionabroad.IfCongressdidnotapproveoftheaction,itwouldhavetoconcludewithinsixtytoninety
days.Ineffect,thisactmadethepresidentaccountabletoCongressforhisactionsabroad.Congressalsoendedthedraft
in1973andstipulatedthatthemilitaryhenceforthconsistsolelyofpaidvolunteers.BoththeWarPowersResolutionand
theconversiontoanall-volunteerarmyhelpedquietantiwarprotesters.
TheCease-fireandtheFallofSaigon
AftersecretnegotiationsbetweenU.S.emissaryHenryA.KissingerandNorthVietnameserepresentativeLeDucThoin
1972,NixonengagedindiplomaticmaneuveringwithChinaandtheUSSR—andsteppedupbombingofNorthVietnam—
topressuretheNorthVietnameseintoasettlement.TheParisPeaceAccordswerefinallysignedinJanuary1973,andthe
lastU.S.militarypersonnelleftVietnaminMarch1973.
Underthetermsoftheagreement,NixonpledgedtowithdrawallremainingmilitarypersonnelfromVietnamandallow
thetensofthousandsofNVAtroopsinSouthVietnamtoremainthere,despitethefactthattheycontrolledaquarterof
SouthVietnameseterritory.However,NixonpromisedtointerveneifNorthVietnammovedagainsttheSouth.In
exchange,NorthVietnampromisedthatelectionswouldbeheldtodeterminethefateoftheentirecountry.Although
Nixoninsistedthattheagreementbrought“peacewithhonor,”SouthVietnameseleaderscomplainedthattheterms
amountedtolittlemorethanasurrenderforSouthVietnam.
7
TheU.S.governmentcontinuedtofundtheSouthVietnamesearmy,butthisfundingquicklydwindled.Meanwhile,as
PresidentNixonbecameembroiledintheWatergatescandalthatledtohisresignationinAugust1974,North
VietnameseforcessteppeduptheirattacksontheSouthandfinallylaunchedanall-outoffensiveinthespringof1975.
OnApril30,1975,theSouthVietnamesecapitalofSaigonfelltotheNorthVietnamese,whoreunitedthecountryunder
CommunistruleastheSocialistRepublicofVietnam,endingtheVietnamWar.
AdaptedandEditedbytheCarolinaK-12
Sources:
http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/vietnamwar/summary.html
http://lefteyeonthemedia.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/lbj_regretting_vnw.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/Nguyen.jpg
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/Depts/History/Sixties/Feminism/1968_files/image001.gif
http://www.uiowa.edu/~policult/assets/VietNam/KentState.jpg
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40336000/jpg/_40336701_nixon_and_kissinger300.jpg
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
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/asia_pac/05/vietnam_war/img/maps/2.gif
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Name_____________________________________
StudentNotes:AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar
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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
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9.
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.
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.
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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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