C H A P T E R

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C H A P T E R
The Vietnam War Years
CHAPTER OBJECTIVE
INTERACT WITH HISTORY
TIME LINE
Moving Toward Conflict
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SECTION
U.S. Involvement and Escalation
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SECTION
A Nation Divided
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SECTION
1968 A Tumultuous Year
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SECTION
GRAPH
The End of the War and Its Legacy
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SECTION
MAP
VISUAL SUMMARY
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C H A P T E R
The Vietnam War Years
To understand the military and political events
of the Vietnam War in Southeast Asia and its
impact on life in the United States
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C H A P T E R
The Vietnam War Years
I N T E R A C T
W I T H H I S T O R Y
In 1965, Americas fight against communism has
spread to Southeast Asia, where the United States
is becoming increasingly involved in another
countrys civil war. Unable to claim victory,
U.S. generals call for an increase in the number
of combat troops. Facing a shortage of
volunteers, the president implements a draft.
Who should be exempt from the draft?
Examine the Issues
Should people who believe the war is wrong be
forced to fight?
Should people with special skills be exempt?
How can a draft be made fair?
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C H A P T E R
The Vietnam War Years
The United States
The World
continued . . .
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C H A P T E R
The Vietnam War Years
The United States
The World
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KEY IDEA
America slowly involves itself in the war in
Vietnam as it seeks to halt the spread of
communism.
OVERVIEW
ASSESSMENT
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OVERVIEW
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
The United States support role in Vietnam began
what would become Americas longest and most
controversial war in its history.
To stop the spread of communism in Southeast
Asia, the United States used its military to
support South Vietnam.
TERMS NAMES
ASSESSMENT
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1. Cite the Vietnam policy for each of the
following presidents Truman, Eisenhower,
Kennedy, and Johnson.
President
Vietnam Policy
Policies Economic aid to France Goals
Containing Communism
Truman
Policies Economic and military aid to South
Vietnam Goals Preventing domino theory
Eisenhower
Policies Economic aid and military advisers
Goals Avoiding appearing soft on communism
Kennedy
Policies Stepped up U.S. military
involvement Goals Preventing control of Vietnam
by Communists
Johnson
continued . . .
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2. How did the United States become more involved
in the war?
ANSWER
The United States provided France with support
when France was trying to reestablish its rule in
Vietnam. After the French were forced to
surrender, the United States began supplying aid
directly to South Vietnams non-communist regime.
continued . . .
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3. In what ways was Americas support of the Diem
government a conflict of interests?
ANSWER
The Diem government was corrupt and unstable.
Diem cancelled elections and attacked Buddhism.
Nonetheless, the United States continued to
support the regime.
continued . . .
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4. Do you think Congress was justified in passing
the Tonkin Gulf Resolution? Think About
the questionable report of torpedo attacks on
two U.S. destroyers
the powers that the resolution would give the
president
the fact that the resolution was not a
declaration of war
ANSWER
YesPresidential authority should be broadened in
response to emergency situations. NoThe
circumstances surrounding the North Vietnamese
attack were not adequately verified.
End of Section 1
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KEY IDEA
The United States sends troops to fight in
Vietnam, but the war quickly turns into a
stalemate.
OVERVIEW
ASSESSMENT
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OVERVIEW
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
The United States sent troops to fight in
Vietnam, but the war quickly turned into a
stalemate.
Since Vietnam, Americans are more aware of the
positive and negative effects of using U.S.
troops in foreign conflicts.
TERMS NAMES
ASSESSMENT
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1. Look at the graphic to help organize your
thoughts. List key military tactics and weapons
of the Vietcong and Americans.
Ambushes hit-and-run attacks
Large-scale bombing search-and-destroy missions
Booby traps land mines
Napalm Agent Orange bombers
continued . . .
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2. Why did Americans fail to win the hearts and
minds of the Vietnamese?
ANSWER
Use of napalm and Agent Orange harmed civilians
U.S. search-and-destroy missions uprooted
civilians and burned their villages, creating
millions of refugees.
continued . . .
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3. Contrast the morale of the U.S. troops with
that of the Vietcong.
ANSWER
U.S. troops were frustrated by the jungle terrain
of Vietnam, guerilla-style warfare, and by the
instability of the South Vietnamese government.
The Vietcong were fighting on familiar terrain
and were determined to win, whatever the cost.
continued . . .
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4. What were the effects of the nightly TV
coverage of the Vietnam War? Think About
television images of Americans in body bags
the Johnson administrations credibility gap
ANSWER
Watching the graphic TV images of the Vietnam war
caused many Americans to question the war. They
began to doubt the Johnson administrations
reports that the enemy was near defeat.
End of Section 2
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KEY IDEA
An antiwar movement emerges in the United States,
pitting those who oppose the governments war
policy against those who support it.
OVERVIEW
ASSESSMENT
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OVERVIEW
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
An antiwar movement in the U.S. pitted supporters
of the governments war policy against those who
opposed it.
The painful process of healing a divided nation
continues today.
TERMS NAMES
ASSESSMENT
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1. Look at the graphic to help organize your
thoughts. Give examples of student organizations,
issues, and demonstrations of the New Left.
The New Left
Students for a Democratic Society Free Speech
Movement
Vietnam War abolition of college deferments
campus issues
March on Washington protest rally in Washington
civil disobedience at Selective Service Centers
continued . . .
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2. Imagine it is 1967. Do you think you would
ally yourself with the hawks or the doves?
ANSWER
Hawks The way to win is to increase U.S.
military strength. The U.S. must stop the spread
of communism. Doves The U.S. should not fight
another countrys war.
continued . . .
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3. Do you agree that antiwar protests were acts
of disloyalty? Why or why not?
ANSWER
Agree Americans have the patriotic duty to
support soldiers fighting for their country
protests demoralized U.S. soldiers and the
American public. Disagree The people condemning
the protesters did not examine the reasons for
fighting the war suppressing dissent is
undemocratic.
End of Section 3
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GRAPH
KEY IDEA
A shocking enemy attack in Vietnam, two
assassinations, and a chaotic political
convention help make 1968 the most explosive year
of the decade.
OVERVIEW
ASSESSMENT
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OVERVIEW
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
An enemy attack in Vietnam, two assassinations,
and a chaotic political convention made 1968 an
explosive year.
Disturbing events in 1968 accentuated the
nations divisions, which are still healing in
the 21st century.
TERMS NAMES
ASSESSMENT
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1. Look at the graphic to help organize your
thoughts. List five major events that occurred
in 1968. Use the months already plotted on the
time line below as a guide.
January
April
August
Tet Offensive
Kings assassination
Democratic National Convention
March
June
Johnsons withdrawal from presidential race
Robert Kennedys assassination
continued . . .
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2. Why do you think the Tet offensive turned so
many Americans against the war?
ANSWER
It widened the Johnson administrations
credibility gap and prompted mainstream media to
criticize the war.
continued . . .
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3. What do you think President Johnson meant when
he said If Ive lost Walter Cronkite, then
its over. Ive lost Mr. Average Citizen?
Explain.
ANSWER
Johnson believed that once Cronkite took a
pessimistic stance on the war, any remaining
supporters in the viewing audience would lose
faith in Johnsons Vietnam policy.
continued . . .
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4. Do you think there might have been a
relationship between the violence of the Vietnam
War and the growing climate of violence in the
United States during 1968?
ANSWER
POSSIBLE RESPONSE People were angry about U.S.
involvement in the war and protests became
increasingly violent. Much of the violence in the
United States was sparked by the assassinations
of King and Robert Kennedy.
End of Section 4
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MAP
KEY IDEA
The nations longest war ends after nearly ten
years and leaves a lasting impact on U.S. policy
and American society.
OVERVIEW
ASSESSMENT
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The End of the War and Its Legacy
OVERVIEW
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
President Nixon instituted his Vietnamization
policy, and Americas longest war finally came to
an end.
Since Vietnam, the United States considers more
carefully the risks to its own interests before
intervening in foreign affairs.
TERMS NAMES
ASSESSMENT
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The End of the War and Its Legacy
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your
thoughts. List five effects on America of the
Vietnam War.
Many Americans developed a more cautious outlook
on foreign affairs.
Policy changes were made, such as the War Powers
Act and abolition of draft.
Vietnam Wars Effect on America
Anti-war demonstrations resulted in violence
and even deaths.
Thousands of Americans were killed or wounded.
Many Americans became cynical about the
government.
continued . . .
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The End of the War and Its Legacy
2. In your opinion, what was the main effect of
the U.S. governments deception about its
policies and military conduct in Vietnam? Think
About
the contents of the Pentagon Papers
Nixons secrecy in authorizing military
maneuvers
ANSWER
Americans became increasingly distrustful of the
government. Examples include responses to the
Pentagon Papers and Congressional repeal of the
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
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The End of the War and Its Legacy
3. How would you account for the cold homecoming
American soldiers received when they returned
from Vietnam?
ANSWER
Some Americans blamed the wars failure on the
soldiers the My Lai massacre might have
tarnished the image of all U.S. soldiers.
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The End of the War and Its Legacy
4. In the end, do you think the United States
withdrawal from Vietnam was a victory for the
United States or a defeat?
ANSWER
VictoryThe United States withdrew on its own
terms. U.S. withdrawal curtailed American
military and economic losses. DefeatThe United
States was unable to claim victory because North
Vietnam did not surrender.
End of Section 5