an overview of the vietnam war - university of north...
TRANSCRIPT
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AnOverviewoftheVietnamWarOverviewInthislesson,studentswillbeintroducedtotheVietnamWarthroughasimulationregardingtheanxietyofcombatandwillthenreceiveanoverviewofthewarviaateacherPowerPointpresentationorlecture(provided),oratextbookreadingfollowedbyclassdiscussion.Studentswillthencreateanillustratedtimelinepicturingtheprominenteventsfromtheyearsofconflict.Grade8NCEssentialStandardsfor8thGradeSocialStudies• 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)onthedevelopmentofNorthCarolinaandtheUnitedStates.
• 8.H.2.3-Summarizetheroleofdebate,compromise,andnegotiationduringsignificantperiodsinthehistoryofNorthCarolinaandtheUnitedStates.
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• 60minutesProcedure
BewareofLandmines!(OptionalWarm-UpSimulation)1. Atthebeginningofclass,breakstudentsupintopartnersandhavethemchoosetobeAorB.Instructthe
A’stolineupononesideoftheroomsidebyside.Tellthemtoturntheirbacktothecenteroftheroomandusetheprovidedmaterialtoblindfoldthemselves.
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2. Next,havetheB’splaceitemsonthefloorthatwouldblockthepathoftheA’siftheyweretowalkacross
theroom(books,apileofpencils,jackets,backpacks,etc.).Theteachershouldjustmakesurethatnoneoftheobjectsusedcouldcauseharm.Ensurethestudentsspreadtheobjectsaroundthewholeroom,sothatthefloorisevenlycovered.Ifpossible,turnonarecordingofwarsoundeffects.
3. Onceallitemsareplaced,tellthegroupthatalloftheitemsonthefloor,whichtheB’scanseeandtheA’s
cannot,representlandmines.Iftheyaresteppedonormovedinanyway,theywillexplodeandobliteratethepoorpersonwhohashitit.
4. ExplainthatA’smustnavigateacrosstheroomwithoutopeningtheireyesandwithouthittingalandmine.
TheonlyassistancetheywillhaveistheirpartnerByellingwarningstodirectthemwhentheyareclosetodanger.B’smaynotsteertheirpartnersphysicallyinanyway.Inadditiontothewarsoundeffects(ifavailable),B’scanalsobeinstructedtoaddtothestressoftheactivitybyyellingwarlikeslogans,suchas“Incoming!;Retreat!;Weareunderattack!;”etc.
5. Oncestudentsunderstandwhattodo,theteachershouldassumetheroleofasergeantandyell
directives.HaveA’sbeginmovingacrosstheroombyyelling,“Alrightsoldier’s,moveout!We’vegotenemiesonourtrail,butproceedwithcaution!Let’sMOVE!”TheteacherandB’sshouldcontinuemakingthesimulationasstressfulaspossibleforA’s,whilestillensuringstudentsarenotliterallyharmedinanyway.TheteacherandB’sshouldpaycloseattentiontotheA’sandifanyrunintoanyofthelandmines,yellandletA’sknowtheyhavebeenblownup.
6. OnceallA’shavenavigatedthroughthelandminesorbeenblownup,discuss:
• Whatdidthatexperiencefeellike?• Imaginethelandminesyouwerecircumventingwerereal.Whatwouldthisexperiencehavebeenlike
then?• Youwereblindfoldedtoillustratehowsoldiersdidnotnecessarilyknowwherelandmineswerewhen
travelingongroundinenemyterritory.Howdoyouimaginethisuncertaintyaffectedthem?• Basedonwhatwehavediscussedintermsofwaringeneral,andbasedonthisactivity,whatdoyou
imaginegroundcombatwouldhavebeenlikeduringwar?• Canyouthinkofanywarswherelandmineswerelikelyused?Whatotherdangerousaspectsof
warfarehavebeenemployedthroughouthistory?
OverviewoftheVietnamWar7. Tellstudentsthattheywillbelearningaboutoneofthemostdangerousandcontroversialwarsinthe
historyoftheU.S.,theVietnamWar,whichlastedfrom1964-1973.Explaintostudentsthatwhiletheywerejustplayingagame,inreality,soldiersfightinginVietnam,bothAmericanandVietnamesefaceddangerousconditionseveryday.Tellstudentsyou’lldiscusstheactualuseoflandminesduringthewarabitlater,butthatyoufirstwanttohearwhattheyalreadyknowabouttheVietnamWar.Togaugestudents’priorknowledge,drawawordwebonapieceofchartpaperwiththewords“VietnamWar”inthecenter.GiveeachstudentthreePost-ItnotesandinstructthemtothinkaboutthephraseandthenwritedownthefirstthreethingsthatcometomindonthePost-Itsprovided.StudentsshouldthenaddtheirPost-Itnotestothewordweb.Aftertheallottedtime,discusswhatstudentshaveposted.Dispelanymisinformationbeforeintroducingstudentstoageneraloverviewoftheconflict.
8. SincetherearenumerouscomponentstotheVietnamWarera,teachersshouldchoosewhichaspectsofthewartohighlightwiththeirstudents.Optionsforprovidinganoverviewofthewarinclude:• UsetheConsortium’sPowerPoint,“AnOverviewoftheVietnamWar,”whichcanbefoundinthe
DatabaseofK-12Resources(k12database.unc.edu)orbye-mailingarequesttoCarolinaK12@unc.edu.ThisPPTprovidesageneraloverviewofallmajoraspectsoftheconflict;teachersshouldpickandchoosewhichcomponentsofthepresentationtheywishtosharewithstudents.
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• Deliveraninteractivelecturetostudentsbasedontheattachedteacherresourcedocument,whichoffersacondensedsummaryoftheeventsoftheVietnamconflict.Teacherscanalsoprovidetheattacheddiscussionquestionsforstudentstofilloutthroughoutthelecture.
• ProvideanintroductoryreadingtostudentsregardingVietnam,suchastheinformationprovidedintheir8thgradetextbook.GooverthereadingwithstudentsbyaskingclarifyingquestionstoensurestudentsgainabasicfoundationofknowledgeregardingVietnam.
9. WhetherusingexcerptsfromthePowerPoint,deliveringalectureoverview,ordiscussingafterareading,
keeptheoverviewoftheVietnamWarasinteractiveaspossible.Forexample,posebasicquestionstotheclassthatfollowabasichistoryoftheVietnamWar,includingwhytheUnitedStatesgotinvolvedandthefinaloutcomeoftheconflict.TalkaboutthedifferenteffectstheVietnamWarhadonAmerica,andencouragethestudentstobrainstormhowtheythinkthewarmighthaveaffectedVietnam.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,toreviewandfurtherfamiliarizestudentswiththeevents,tellstudentstheyaregoingtobeillustratingcertainkeymomentsofthishistoricalperiod,eitherindividually,inpartners,orinsmallgroups(teacher’sdiscretion).(Thereare29timelinestripsattachedthatshouldbecutapart;teachersshouldensureeachisillustrated.Onestripcanbeassignedperindividual,orifteacherspreferforstudentstoworkinpartnersorsmallgroups,multiplestripscanbeassignedforeachpartner/grouptoillustrate.)Tellstudentsthattheyareresponsibleforreadingtheirstrip,researchingadditionalinformationregardingtheevent(s)described(optional),thenillustratingtheireventontheartpaperprovided.Finalillustrationsshouldinclude:• Thedateoftheevent,prominentlyfeatured• Abriefbutcleardescriptionoftheevent• Anappropriateandcolorfulillustration;illustrationscanbeliteralorabstract,aslongasitisclearwhat
theabstractimageissymbolizing.
11. Encouragestudentstobecreativewhilealsobeinghistoricallyaccurateandrespectfultothetimeperiod.Teachersshouldalsoletstudentsknowwhattypeofartisacceptable.SincecertainaspectsoftheVietnamwereveryviolent,itisrecommendedteachersencouragestudentstorefrainfromcreatingparticularlygruesomeartwork,andratherleantowardssymbolism.
12. Finally,letstudentsknowthatuponcompletion,theirworkwillbehunginchronologicalorderwiththeworkoftheirclassmates,creatingalarge,illustratedtimelineofVietnam.Allowstudentstoaskquestionsandgivethemapproximately15-20minutestoworkontheirassignment.(
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13. Oncestudentshavefinished,assisttheclassinhandingtheirtimelinearoundtheroominchronological
order.Provideeachstudentwithadouble-sidedcopyoftheattached“IllustratedTimelineReview.”Teacherscaneitherhavestudentscirculatethroughouttheroomandtakenotesastheyreviewtheartwork,orplacestudentsintosmallgroupsandcirculatetheartworkthroughouteachgroup,allowingstudentstoremainseatedwhiletakingtheirnotes.(Teachersshouldjustensurethetimelinecirculatesinorder.)
14. Afterstudentshavereviewedtheillustratedtimelineandtakennotesonthemajorevents,culminatewithadiscussion:• WhatweresomemajorturningpointsoftheVietnamconflict?• Baseduponwhatyou’velearned,whatdoyouthinkwasthemostdifficultaspectoftheVietnamWar?
(encouragestudentstoconsidermultipleaspectsastheyrespondtothisquestion(i.e.thefearofbeingdrafted,losinglovedonesincombat,difficultpresidentialdecisions,thepassionatefeelingsofthosewhodisagreedwithandprotestedthewar,returninghomeasasoldierbutbeingprotestedratherthanhonored,etc.)
• DoyouthinkthereisanywaytheVietnamWarhaveturnedoutdifferently(i.e.lessliveslost,lesscontroversy,shortertermofinvolvement,etc.)?Ifso,how?
• Thinkbacktoourwarm-up.Whilethatwasachanceforustogetupandhaveabitoffun,inactuality,whataspectsofVietnam(suchaslandmines)wouldhavebeenincrediblystressfulorfrightening?o Tobringthelessonfullcircle,sharesomeadditionalinformationregardinglandminesandthe
Vietnamconflictwithstudents.Letthemknowthatwhile“theVietnamwarendedover30yearsago,formanyVietnamese,therealitiesofthewarstilllinger.IntheyearssincethefallofSaigon,over40,000Vietnamesehavebeenkilledorinjuredbylandminesandunexplodedbombsleftbehindfromthatconflict.Infact,every22minutes,someonearoundtheworldiskilledormaimedbyalandmine.One-thirdoftheworld'scountriesarelitteredwithlandminesandtheU.S.StateDepartmentestimatesthat60to75millionlandminesremainunexplodedinthegroundworldwide.Someexpert’sestimatethatbetween12-18%ofbombsdroppedduringtheVietnamWardidn’texplodeonimpact.UnexplodedordnanceandburiedlandminesposeanongoinganddailythreattothepeopleofVietnam,particularlyintheDemilitarizedZone,the“DMZ,”whichonceseparatedNorthandSouthVietnam.Thesemunitionscontinuetoinflictinjuryanddeathonthefarmersandinnocentchildrenofsmallvillages.Removingsuchlandminesisexpensiveanddangerous,buttherearehumanitarianagenciesandprivateorganizationsincreasingawarenessoftheproblemandraisingfundstohelpvictimsandtode-minethefieldsandricepaddies.”(Source:http://www.pbs.org/vietnampassage/perspectives/perspectives.landmines.html)
• WhydoyouthinksomepoliticalcommentatorscomparethewarsinIraqandAfghanistantoVietnam?Canyouseeanyparallels?
Ø Optional:Asahomeworkassignment,havestudentsreadtheattachedarticlefromCNN,“AfghanistanhauntedbyghostofVietnam.”Instructstudentstofilloutthechartatthebottomofthearticleastheyread,notingthesimilaritiesbetweenVietnamandAfghanistanandthedifferencesbetweenthetwo.Tellstudentstheinformationtheychartcanbefromthereading,butalsofrompriorknowledgeorothersources.Teacherswhoassignthereadingshouldreservetimethefollowingclassperiodtodiscussthearticlewithstudents.
AdditionalActivities• TeachtheConsortium’slesson,“RememberingVietnam:TheVietnamWarMemorial,”availableinthe
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TEACHERREFERENCEDOCUMENT:
AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar
ImperialismandColonialismTheVietnamWarhasrootsinVietnam’scenturiesofdominationbyimperialandcolonialpowers—firstChina,whichruledancientVietnam,andthenFrance,whichtookcontrolofVietnaminthelate1800sandestablishedFrenchIndochina.Intheearly1900s,nationalistmovementsemergedinVietnam,demandingmoreself-governanceandlessFrenchinfluence.ThemostprominentofthesewasledbyCommunistleaderHoChiMinh,whofoundedamilitantnationalistorganizationcalledtheVietMinh.TheFirstIndochinaWarDuringWorldWarII,whenFrancewasoccupiedbyNaziGermany,itlostitsfootholdinVietnam,andJapantookcontrol
ofthecountry.TheVietMinhresistedtheseJapaneseoppressorsandextendeditspowerbasethroughoutVietnam.WhenJapansurrenderedattheendofWorldWarIIin1945,HoChiMinh’sforcestookthecapitalofHanoianddeclaredVietnamtobeanindependentcountry,theDemocraticRepublicofVietnam.FrancerefusedtorecognizeHo’sdeclarationandreturnedtoVietnam,drivingHo’sCommunistforcesintonorthernVietnam.HoappealedforaidfromtheUnitedStates,butbecausetheUnitedStateswasembroiledintheescalatingColdWarwiththeCommunistUSSR,itdistrustedHo’sCommunistleanings
andaidedtheFrenchinstead.FightingbetweenHo’sforcesandtheFrenchcontinuedinthisFirstIndochinaWaruntil1954,whenahumiliatingdefeatatDienBienPhupromptedFrancetoseekapeacesettlement.DividedVietnamTheGenevaAccordsof1954declaredacease-fireanddividedVietnamofficiallyintoNorthVietnam(underHoandhisCommunistforces)andSouthVietnam(underaFrench-backedemperor).Thedividinglinewassetatthe17thparallelandwassurroundedbyademilitarizedzone,orDMZ.TheGenevaAccordsstipulatedthatthedividewastemporaryandthatVietnamwastobereunifiedunderfreeelectionstobeheldin1956.TheColdWarandtheDominoTheoryAtthispoint,theUnitedStates’ColdWarforeignpolicybegantoplayamajorpartinVietnam.U.S.policyatthetimewasdominatedbythedominotheory,whichbelievedthatthe“fall”ofNorthVietnamtoCommunismmighttriggerallofSoutheastAsiatofall,settingoffasortofCommunistchainreaction.WithinayearoftheGenevaAccords,theUnitedStatesthereforebegantooffersupporttotheanti-CommunistpoliticianNgoDinhDiem.WithU.S.assistance,DiemtookcontroloftheSouthVietnamesegovernmentin1955anddeclaredtheRepublicofVietnam.DuetothepopularityofHoChiMinhthroughoutVietnam,Diempromptlycanceledtheelectionsthathadbeenscheduledfor1956.TheDiemRegimeDiem’sregimeprovedcorrupt,oppressive,andextremelyunpopular.HewassounpopularthatsomeBuddhistmonksprotestedhisregimeusingself-immolation–setting
oneselfonfire.Nonetheless,theUnitedStatescontinuedtopropDiemup,fearfuloftheincreasingCommunistresistanceactivityinSouthVietnam.ThisresistanceagainstDiem’sregimewasorganizedbytheHoChiMinh–backedNationalLiberationFront,whichbecamemorecommonlyknownastheVietCong.In1962,U.S.presidentJohnF.KennedysentAmerican“militaryadvisors”toVietnamtohelptraintheSouthVietnamesearmy,theARVN,butquicklyrealizedthattheDiemregimewasunsalvageable.Therefore,in1963,theUnitedStatesbackedacoupthatoverthrewDiemandinstalledanewleader.ThenewU.S.-backedleadersprovedjustascorruptandineffective.JohnsonandU.S.EscalationKennedy’ssuccessor,LyndonB.Johnson,pledgedtohonorKennedy’scommitmentsbuthopedto
keepU.S.involvementinVietnamtoaminimum.HekeptKennedy’sSecretaryofDefense,RobertMcNamara,but
HoChiMinh
Self–Immolation
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replacedthepreviousAmericanmilitarycommanderwithWilliamC. Westmoreland–aU.S.generalwhoadvocatedaggressivestrategiesagainstVietCongandNVAusinglargenumbersofU.S.forces.AfterNorthVietnameseforcesallegedlyattackedU.S.NavyshipsduringtheGulfofTonkinIncidentin1964,JohnsonwasgivencarteblancheintheformoftheGulfofTonkinResolution.ThisresolutionallowedJohnson“totakeallnecessarymeasuretorepelanyarmedattackagainsttheforcesofUnitedStatesandtopreventfurtheraggression;”thisgreatlyexpandedhispresidentialpower.WiththefreehandrecentlyprovidedbyCongress,JohnsonorderedtheU.S.AirForceandU.S.NavytobeginanintenseseriesofairstrikescalledOperationRollingThunder.HehopedthatthebombingcampaignwoulddemonstratetotheSouthVietnamesetheU.S.commitmenttotheircauseanditsresolvetohaltthespreadofCommunism.Ironically,theairraidsseemedonlytoincreasethenumberofVietCongandNVA(NorthVietnameseArmy)attacks.Johnson’s“Americanization”ofthewarledtoapresenceofnearly400,000U.S.troopsinVietnambytheendof1966.QuagmireandAttritionIn1965,Westmorelandbegantoimplementasearch-and-destroystrategythatsentU.S.troopsoutintothefieldtofindandkillVietCongmembers.WestmorelandwasconfidentthatAmericantechnologywouldsucceedinslowlywearingdowntheVietCongthroughawarofattrition—astrategyofextendedcombatmeanttoinflictsomanycasualtiesontheenemythatitcouldnolongercontinue.U.S.leadersagreed,believingthatNorthVietnam’seconomycouldnotsustainaprolongedwareffort.Inlightofthisnewstrategyoffightingawarofattrition,U.S.commanderswereinstructedtobeginkeepingbodycountsofenemysoldierskilled.Althoughbodycountswereindeedtallied,theywereoftenexaggeratedandprovedwildlyinaccurate,asthebodiesofVietCongsoldiersoftenweredifficulttodistinguishfromthebodiesoffriendlySouthVietnamesesoldiers.However,theVietCong’sguerrillatacticsfrustratedanddemoralizedU.S.troops,whileitsdispersed,largelyruralpresenceleftAmericanbomberplaneswithfewtargets.TheUnitedStatesthereforeusedunconventionalweaponssuchasnapalm–ahighlyflammablejelliedsubstance--andtheherbicidedefoliantAgentOrangebutstillmanagedtomakelittleheadway.TheHoChiMinhTrailMeanwhile,U.S.forcescontinuedtotrytocutoffVietCongsupplylinesthroughairpower.Theseeffortsexpendedagreatdealoftimeandresources,buttheNorthVietnamesegovernmentprovedextremelysavvyinitsabilitytokeeptheVietCongsupplied.RatherthanattempttosendmaterialsacrosstheheavilyguardedDMZ(thedemilitarizedzonesurroundingtheborderbetweenNorthandSouthVietnamatthe17thparallel),theysentsuppliesviatheHoChiMinhTrail,whichranfromNorthVietnamthroughLaosandCambodiaintoSouthVietnam(seemapabove).TroopsandsuppliesstreamedintoSouthVietnamviathetrailanddespiteintenseU.S.bombingthroughout1965,thetrailneverclosedonce,noteventemporarily.The“CredibilityGap”Despitethenumeroussetbacks,JohnsonandotherU.S.officials,citingincreasedtroopnumbersandredefinedobjectives,againclaimedtobemakingheadwayinthewar.ManygovernmentofficialsreportedthattheNorthVietnameseweredeclininginstrengthandwereonthebrinkofdefeat.PhotosandvideofootageofdeadAmericansoldiersinnewspapersandoneveningnewsprograms,however,indicatedotherwise.Moreover,U.S.spendinginsupportofthewarhadreachedrecordlevels,costingthegovernmentanestimated$3billionamonth.Asaresult,manypeopleintheUnitedStatesbegantospeakofa“credibilitygap”betweenwhatJohnsonand
theU.S.governmentwastellingtheAmericanpeopleandwhatactuallywastranspiringontheground.TheTetOffensiveIn1968,theNorthVietnameseArmyandtheVietConglaunchedamassivecampaigncalledtheTetOffensive,attackingnearlythirtyU.S.targetsanddozensofothercitiesinSouthVietnamatonce.AlthoughtheUnitedStatespushedbacktheoffensiveandwonatacticalvictory,Americanmediacoveragecharacterizedtheconflictasadefeat,andU.S.publicsupportforthewarplummeted.MoraleamongU.S.
troopsalsohitanall-timelow,manifestingitselftragicallyinthe1968MyLaiMassacre,inwhichfrustratedU.S.soldierskilledhundredsofunarmedVietnameseciviliansinasmallvillage.TheAntiwarMovement
“GeneralNguyenNgocLoanexecutingaVietCongprisonerin
Saigon”FamousTetOffensivePhoto
VietnamtakesitstollonPresidentJohnson
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Meanwhile,theantiwarmovementwithintheUnitedStatesgainedmomentumasstudentprotesters,counterculturalhippies,andevenmanymainstreamAmericansdenouncedthewar.Protestsagainstthewarandtheselectiveservicesystem--militarydraft--grewincreasinglyviolent,resultinginpolicebrutalityoutsidetheDemocraticNationalConventionin1968andthedeathsoffourstudentsatKentStateUniversityin1970whenOhioNationalGuardsmenfiredonacrowd.Despitetheprotests,Johnson’ssuccessorelectedin1968,PresidentRichardM.Nixon,declaredthata“silentmajority”ofAmericansstillsupportedthewar.VietnamizationandU.S.WithdrawalNonetheless,NixonpromotedapolicyofVietnamizationofthewar,promisingtowithdrawU.S.troopsgraduallyandhandovermanagementofthewarefforttotheSouthVietnamese.AlthoughNixonmadegoodonhispromise,healsoillegallyexpandedthegeographicscopeofthewarbyauthorizingthebombingofVietCongsitesintheneutralnationsofCambodiaandLaos,allwithouttheknowledgeorconsentoftheU.S.Congress.Therevelationoftheseillegalactions,alongwiththepublicationofthesecretPentagonPapersinUSnewspapersin1971,causedanenormousscandalintheUnitedStatesandforcedNixontopushforapeacesettlement.ThesepapersrevealedthattheU.S.Army,aswellaspresidentsTruman,Eisenhower,Kennedy,andJohnson,hadauthorizedanumberofcovertactionsthatincreasedU.S.involvementinVietnamunbeknownsttotheAmericanpublic.Thegovernmenttriedtoblockthepublicationofthesepapersundertheguiseof“nationalsecurity”,buttheSupremeCourtruledinNewYorkTimesv.USthatthegovernmentmustproveanimmediatethreattonationalsecuritytocensurethepapers.Congress’sResponseOutragedbytheunauthorizedinvasionofCambodiaandbythedoublescandalfromtheMyLaiMassacreandthe
PentagonPapers,manyinCongresstookstepstoexertmorecontroloverthewarandtoappeasetheequallyangrypublic.TheSenatevotedtorepealtheGulfofTonkinResolutiontoreducethemilitary’suncheckedspendingpower(althoughtheHouseofRepresentativesdidnotfollowsuit).Congressalsoreducedthenumberofyearsdraftedsoldiersneededtoserveinthearmy.Finally,theTwenty-SixthAmendmentwasratifiedin1971tolowertheU.S.votingagefromtwenty-onetoeighteen,onthegroundsthattheyoungmenservinginVietnamshouldhaveasayinwhichpoliticianswererunningthewar.TheWarPowersResolutionInJuly1973,CongressandtheAmericanpubliclearnedthefullextentofthesecretU.S.military
campaignsinCambodia.TestimonyincongressionalhearingsrevealedthatNixonandthemilitaryhadbeensecretlybombingCambodiaheavilysince1969,eventhoughthepresidentandJointChiefsofStaffhadrepeatedlydeniedthecharge.Whenthenewsbroke,NixonswitchedtacticsandbeganbombingCambodiaopenlydespiteextremepublicdisproval.Angry,CongressmusteredenoughvotestopasstheNovember1973WarPowersResolutionoverNixon’sveto.TheresolutionrestrictedpresidentialpowersduringwartimebyrequiringthepresidenttonotifyCongressuponlaunchinganyU.S.militaryactionabroad.IfCongressdidnotapproveoftheaction,itwouldhavetoconcludewithinsixtytoninetydays.Ineffect,thisactmadethepresidentaccountabletoCongressforhisactionsabroad.Congressalsoendedthedraftin1973andstipulatedthatthemilitaryhenceforthconsistsolelyofpaidvolunteers.BoththeWarPowersResolutionandtheconversiontoanall-volunteerarmyhelpedquietantiwarprotesters.TheCease-fireandtheFallofSaigonAftersecretnegotiationsbetweenU.S.emissaryHenryA.KissingerandNorthVietnameserepresentativeLeDucThoin1972,NixonengagedindiplomaticmaneuveringwithChinaandtheUSSR—andsteppedupbombingofNorthVietnam—topressuretheNorthVietnameseintoasettlement.TheParisPeaceAccordswerefinallysignedinJanuary1973,andthelastU.S.militarypersonnelleftVietnaminMarch1973.Underthetermsoftheagreement,NixonpledgedtowithdrawallremainingmilitarypersonnelfromVietnamandallowthetensofthousandsofNVAtroopsinSouthVietnamtoremainthere,despitethefactthattheycontrolledaquarterofSouthVietnameseterritory.However,NixonpromisedtointerveneifNorthVietnammovedagainsttheSouth.Inexchange,NorthVietnampromisedthatelectionswouldbeheldtodeterminethefateoftheentirecountry.AlthoughNixoninsistedthattheagreementbrought“peacewithhonor,”SouthVietnameseleaderscomplainedthatthetermsamountedtolittlemorethanasurrenderforSouthVietnam.
NixonandKissinger
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TheU.S.governmentcontinuedtofundtheSouthVietnamesearmy,butthisfundingquicklydwindled.Meanwhile,asPresidentNixonbecameembroiledintheWatergatescandalthatledtohisresignationinAugust1974,NorthVietnameseforcessteppeduptheirattacksontheSouthandfinallylaunchedanall-outoffensiveinthespringof1975.OnApril30,1975,theSouthVietnamesecapitalofSaigonfelltotheNorthVietnamese,whoreunitedthecountryunderCommunistruleastheSocialistRepublicofVietnam,endingtheVietnamWar.
AdaptedandEditedbytheCarolinaK-12Sources:http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/vietnamwar/summary.htmlhttp://www.vn-tours.com/images/tour/map/vietnam-asia-map.gifhttp://img.timeinc.net/time/time100/images/main_hochiminh.jpghttp://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/usa/images-3/vietnam-war-monk-self-immolation.jpghttp://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/asia_pac/05/vietnam_war/img/maps/2.gif
http://lefteyeonthemedia.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/lbj_regretting_vnw.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/Nguyen.jpghttp://www.bristol.ac.uk/Depts/History/Sixties/Feminism/1968_files/image001.gifhttp://www.uiowa.edu/~policult/assets/VietNam/KentState.jpghttp://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40336000/jpg/_40336701_nixon_and_kissinger300.jpg
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Name_____________________________________
StudentNotes:AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar
1. WhywasHoChiMinhfightingtheFrench?Whatwasthenameofhisorganization?2. WhathappenedatDienBienPhu?3. HowdidtheUnitedStates’foreignpolicyrelatetoanincreasedpresenceinVietnam?4. WhatgrouporganizedresistancetoDiem’sregime?Listbothnamesfortheorganization.5. WhatwastheGulfofTonkinresolution?Whywasitpassed?Whyisitsignificant?6. WhatwasthepurposeofOperationRollingThunder?Diditwork?7. WhatstrategiesdidtheUnitedStatesuseinVietnam?Whydidtheybelievetheywouldwork?8. WhywastheHoChiMinhTrailsignificant?9. WhatwastheTetOffensive?HowisitrelatedtotheCreditabilityGap?10. WhatwasVietnamization?
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StudentNotes:AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar
AnswerKey
1. WhywasHoChiMinhfightingtheFrench?Whatwasthenameofhisorganization?HoChiMinhwantedtoremoveFrenchcontrolandinfluencefromVietnam,sotheVietnamesecouldrulethemselves.HisorganizationwascalledtheVietMinh.
2. WhathappenedatDienBienPhu?
TheFrenchweredefeatedbyHoChiMinh’sforcesandforcedtoleaveVietnam.3. HowdidtheUnitedStates’foreignpolicyrelatetoanincreasedpresenceinVietnam?
TheDominoTheorystressedthatifonenationfelltocommunism,thesurroundingnationswouldalsofall.HoChiMinhwasextremelypopularinVietnamafterdefeatingtheFrenchandheprobablywouldhavewonelectionstounifyingthecountryunderacommunistgovernment.TopreventVietnamfallingtocommunismunderHoChiMinh,theUnitedStatessentlargeamountsofaidandadvisors.Eventually,thispolicyledtoanincreaseintheamountofUStroopsinVietnam.
4. WhatgrouporganizedresistancetoDiem’sregime?Listbothnamesfortheorganization.
TheNationalLiberationFrontconsistedofsupportersofHoChiMinhstationedinSouthVietnamthatcarriedoutvariousresistanceactivities.Theyaremorecommonlyknownasthe“VietCong.”
5. WhatwastheGulfofTonkinResolution?Whywasitpassed?Whyisitsignificant?
TheGulfofTonkinResolutionwasacongressionalauthorizationthatallowedPresidentJohnsontogreatlyexpandthewarinVietnam.ItwaspassedinresponsetotheGulfofTonkinIncident.ItissignificantbecauseitgreatlyexpandedPresidentialWarPowersandallowedJohnsontoescalatethewarwithoutoversightfromCongress.
6. WhatwasthepurposeofOperationRollingThunder?Diditwork?
ThepurposeofOperationRollingThunderwastobombtheN.VietnameseintosubmissionandtodemonstratetotheSouthVietnamesethattheUSwasseriousaboutsupportingitscause.Itdidnotwork,itactuallystrengthenedtheresolveoftheNorthandincreasethenumberofpeoplesidingwithHoChiMinh.
7. WhatstrategiesdidtheUnitedStatesuseinVietnam?Whydidtheybelievetheywouldwork?
Onestrategywas“SearchandDestroy”–UStroopswouldgointothecountrysidetofindandkillVietCongmembers.Anotherstrategywasattrition–extendcombattoinflictthemostamountofenemiescasualtiesthusforcingthemtosurrender.TheybelieveditwouldworkbecausetheyfeltthatN.Vietnam’seconomycouldnotsustainaprotractedwareffort.
8. WhywastheHoChiMinhTrailsignificant?
ItallowedtheNorthtoresupplytheVietCongintheSouthdespiteUSeffortstostopthetrail.9. WhatwastheTetOffensive?HowdoyouthinkitisrelatedtotheCreditabilityGap?
AmassiveNorthVietnamesesurpriseattackagainstvariousAmericanandSouthVietnamesetargets.ItwasamilitaryfailurefortheNorthVietnamese,butithelpedturnedAmericansupportagainstthewar.ManygovernmentofficialsissuedreportsthattheNorthVietnamesewereonthebrinkofdefeat,buttheTetOffensiveprovedtheywerenot.
10. WhatwasVietnamization?PresidentNixon’splantowithdrawU.S.troopsgraduallyandhandovermanagementofthewarefforttotheSouthVietnamese.
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TimeLineoftheVietnamWarByDavidWalbert,LearnNC
TeacherNote:Stripsshouldbecutapartpriortoclass
1858–1884
VietnambecomesaFrenchcolony,calledIndochina.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1930
TheIndochineseCommunistPartyisformed.HoChiMinhisafounder.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------September1940
JapaninvadesVietnam.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------May1941
HoChiMinhestablishestheVietMinh(theLeaguefortheIndependenceofVietnam).--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------September2,1945
JapansurrenderstoAlliedforces.HoChiMinhdeclaresVietnamanindependentnation,theDemocraticRepublicofVietnam.ButvictoriousFrancereassumescolonialauthority.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1946
TheFirstIndochinaWarbegins,astheVietMinhbeginfightingagainstFrenchcolonialrule.Overthecourseofthewar,theygrowfromsmallguerillabandsintoawell-organizedandequippedarmy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1950
ChinabeginsprovidingtheVietMinhwithmilitaryadvisorsandweapons.Inresponse,theUnitedStatespledges$15millioninmilitaryaidtoFrance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1954
TheVietMinhdefeattheFrencharmyintheBattleofDienBienPhu,forcingthesurrenderofmostoftheoccupyingtroops.OnJuly21,FrancesignstheGenevaAccord,acease-firethatleadstothepeacefulwithdrawalofFrenchtroopsfromSoutheastAsia.VietnamistemporarilydividedbetweenNorthandSouthatthe17thparallel(17degreesnorthlatitude).TheVietMinharetowithdrawnorthoftheline,whiletroopssupportingFrancearetowithdrawtothesouth.Electionsaretobeheldin1956toreunifythecountry.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1955
OnOctober26,SouthVietnamdeclaresitselftheRepublicofVietnam,withitscapitalatSaigonandNgoDinhDiemelectedpresidentinriggedelections.DiemarguesthatSouthVietnamwasnotapartytotheGenevaAccords,andcancelsthe1956elections.TheNorthremainsunderthecontrolofHo’sCommunists,withitsgovernmentatHanoi.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1956
TheU.S.militarybeginstrainingSouthVietnameseforces.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1957
CommunistguerillasbeginaninsurgencyinSouthVietnam,assassinatingmorethan400SouthVietnameseofficials.Withinayear,CommunistforceshavesettledalongtheMekongDelta.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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1960
TheHanoigovernmentformstheNationalLiberationFront(NLF)inSouthVietnam.DiemcallsthegrouptheVietcong.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1963
Diem,aCatholic,hasbeenintolerantofotherreligionsandhastriedtosilenceprotestsbyBuddhistmonks.Inresponse,monksprotestbysettingthemselvesonfireinpublicplaces.InNovember,withthetacitapprovaloftheU.S.,membersoftheSouthVietnamesemilitaryoverthrowDiemandexecutehim.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1964
GeneralNguyenKhanhtakespowerinSouthVietnaminanothercoup.OnAugust2threeNorthVietnameseboatsallegedlyfiretorpedoesattheU.S.S.Maddox,adestroyerlocatedintheinternationalwatersoftheTonkinGulf.AsecondattackwasallegedtohavetakenplaceonAugust4,butgovernmentdocumentslatershowedthatnosecondincidenttookplace.OnAugust7,CongresspassestheGulfofTonkinResolution,authorizingPresidentLyndonJohnsonto“takeallnecessarymeasurestorepelanyarmedattackagainstforcesoftheUnitedStatesandtopreventfurtheraggression.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1965
TheU.S.beginssustainedbombingofNorthVietnam,calledOperationRollingThunder.Thebombingwillcontinueforthreeyears.InMarch,thefirstU.S.combattroopsarriveinVietnam.Byyear’send,morethan200,000U.S.troopsarestationedthere.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1966
Thefirstprotestsagainstthewarareheld,includingaprotestbyveteransofWorldWarsIandIIinNewYorkCity.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1967
SecretaryofDefenseRobertMcNamaracallsthebombingcampaignineffective.TheU.S.launchesOperationCedarFalls,agroundwareffortinvolving30,000U.S.andSouthVietnamesetroopstodestroyVietcongoperationsandsupplysitesnearSaigon.TheydiscoveramassivesystemofundergroundtunnelsthathadservedasheadquartersfortheVietcong.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1968
InJanuary,ontheVietnameselunarnewyear(Tet),theNorthVietnameseandVietcongforceslaunchanattackononehundredSouthVietnamesecitiesandtowns.Withindays,U.S.forcesrecapturemostareas.The“TetOffensive”isamilitarydefeatforCommunists,butisapoliticalvictory,asAmericansbeginquestioningtheU.S.military’sconductofthewar.
OnMarch16,U.S.soldierskillhundredsofVietnameseciviliansinthetownofMaiLai.
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Hispopularityplummeting,PresidentJohnsonannouncesthathewillnotseekre-election.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1968(cont.)
InJuly,GeneralWilliamWestmoreland,commanderofU.S.forcesinVietnam,isreplacedbyGeneralCreightonAbrams.
RichardNixoniselectedPresidentinNovember.
ByDecember,U.S.trooplevelsinVietnamreach540,000.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1969
PresidentNixonapproves“OperationBreakfast,”covertbombingofCommunistsupplyroutesandbasecampsinCambodia.Thebombingcontinuesfor14monthswithoutknowledgeofCongressortheAmericanpublic.
Nixon’sSecretaryofDefense,MelvinLaird,announcesapolicyof“Vietnamization”inwhichtheU.S.willgraduallyshifttheburdenofthewartotheSouthVietnamesearmy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1969(cont.)
HoChiMinhdiesonNovember3.OnNovember13,theAmericanpubliclearnsoftheMaiLaimassacre.Thenewsfurtherturnsopinionagainstthewar.TheArmyhasalreadychargedLietenantWilliamCalley,wholedtheattack,withmurder.Calleywillbeconvictedayearlater.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1970
OnApril30,NixonannouncesthatU.S.troopswillattackenemylocationsinCambodia.Thenewssparksprotestsnationwide,especiallyoncollegecampuses.
InMay,OhioNationalGuardsmenopenfireonacrowdofstudentprotestersatKentStateUniversity,killingfourstudentsandwoundingeightothers.SeveraloftheprotestershadbeenhurlingrocksandemptyteargascanistersattheGuardsmen.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1972
TheNorthVietnamesecrossthedemilitarizedzone(DMZ)atthe17thparalleltoattackSouthVietnaminwhatwillbeknownastheEasterOffensive.Nixonannouncesfurthertroopreductions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1973
OnJanuary27,U.S.SecretaryofStateHenryKissingerandVietcongleaderLeDucThosigntheParisPeaceAccords,animmediatecease-firethatwillallowforU.S.withdrawal.KissingerandLeareawardedtheNobelPeacePrizelaterintheyear.OnMarch29,thelastU.S.troopsleaveVietnam.TheU.S.CongressabolishesthedraftinfavorofanallvolunteerArmy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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1974NorthVietnamannouncesarenewalofthewar.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1975
NorthVietnamlaunchesamassiveassaultonSouthVietnam.PresidentGeraldFordannouncesthatfortheU.S.,theVietnamWaris“finished.”OnApril30,SouthVietnamsurrenderstoCommunistforces,andthelastAmericansevacuateSaigon.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1976–1980
VietnamisunifiedunderCommunistruleastheSocialistRepublicofVietnam.Thenewgovernmentimprisonsasmanyasamillionpeoplewithouttrialforsupportingthepreviousregime.ThousandsofVietnameserefugees,dubbed“boatpeople,”fleeincrowdedandricketyboats,hopingtobepermittedtoreachothercountries.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1982
TheVietnamVeteransMemorialisdedicatedinWashington,D.C.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1997
TheUnitedStatesandVietnamexchangeambassadorsforthefirsttimesincethewar,beginninganeweraofcooperationbetweenthetwonations.
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Name:______________________________________
Vietnam–IllustratedTimelineReview
Event&Date Description/SignificanceoftheEvent
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AfghanistanhauntedbyghostofVietnamByEdHornick,CNN
Washington(CNN)--WhilePresidentObama'swarcouncildeliberatesitsstrategytowardAfghanistan,theghostofVietnamisofteninvokedasawarning.
Afghanistan,U.S.andcoalitionforceshavebeenfightinginAfghanistanforeightyears,anduntilrecentlythewarhadbeenovershadowedbytheoneinIraq.InMarch,AfghanistanwillbecomeAmerica'slongestwar,surpassingtheVietnamWar.
TheVietnamWar,whichcost58,000Americanlives,istheonemostofteninvokedwhenU.S.troopsarecommittedoverseas.
AlthoughsomesayAfghanistanis"Obama'sVietnam,"expertssaythereareseveralmajorsimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenthetwowars.
EricMargolis,aveteranjournalistandformerArmysoldierwhoservedduringtheVietnamWar,saidthebiggestproblemtheUnitedStatesisfacingnow--asinVietnam--isfightingthemostlypoor,ruralinsurgentswholiveamongAfghans.
"Itmakesitverydifficulttodrive[insurgents]out,becausetheycanstaythereforever....They'reathome.Whenweattackvillageswheretheyare,wekillalotofcivilians,causinganuproarandturningthepeoplemoreagainstus."
SteveClemonsofthenonpartisanNewAmericaFoundationsaidoneofthefactorsintheSoviet-AfghanWar--whichpittedtheSoviet-backedDemocraticRepublicofAfghanistanwiththeSovietmilitaryagainsttheIslamistMujahideenResistance--wasthebrutalattacksinflictedonbothfightersandciviliansbytheSoviets.
"[There]wasthesenseofoutrageandgrievanceatsomeofthethingsthattheyhaddoneandthetriggeringofadeeplyfeltemotionalantagonismtotheSovietefforttodominateandcolonizeAfghanistanamongthePashtun."
HeworriesthatiftheUnitedStatesfailstofocusonamorehumanitariananddiplomaticapproach,AmericanswillfallintothesametraptheSovietsfaced,whichultimatelyledtothemleavingthecountrydefeated.
"IthinkoneofthethingsI'mconcernedaboutiswhetherornotwe'retriggeringthosesamekindofemotionsamongthePashtunstoday.Andbelieveme,thePashtunsdon'tcarewhetherthey're[goingafter]AmericansorgoingaftertheSoviets.Ifyoubegintothreatentheirownperceptionoftheirownindependence,thenyouturnPashtunsintoTaliban."
PeterBeinart,whorecentlywroteanarticlecalled"BurytheVietnamAnalogy"onTheDailyBeast.com,hassaidthereisarealsenseofnationalidentityforAfghanisthatwasn'tseeninSouthVietnam.
"AfghanistanisarealcountrythatAfghansgenerallybelievein.TheyhaveanAfghannationalidentity.Thatdidn'texistinSouthVietnam,"hesaid,addingthattheTalibanismuchlesspopularinAfghanistanthantheVietCongwasinSouthVietnam.
InVietnam,theCommunistscontrolledthenationalistmovementandhadthenationalistlegitimacy.TheTaliban,meanwhile,isnotasorganizedastheVietCongandNorthVietnamesearmywere.
ButthereisevidencetheTalibanischanging,asshownbyaseriesofrecentwell-coordinatedattacksonremoteAfghanistanoutposts.
JournalistMargolisalsocomparedthegovernmentofAfghanistantothegovernmentofSouthVietnam.
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"Inbothcases,thegovernmentofSaigon[SouthVietnam]andKabul[Afghanistan]areheavilyinfluencedbyminorities.Wehavemadeourenemies[among]theethnicmajorityinAfghanistanwhoarethePashtuns--prettywellcutthemoutofpower."
TherecentAfghanistanelectionsreceivedworldwideattentionforclaimsoffraudbytheincumbent,PresidentHamidKarzai,whoreportedlywontheelection.Afterfierceinternationalcriticism,Karzairecentlyagreedtoarunoff.
Anotherdifferencebetweenthetwowarscomesintermsoftroopnumbers,Beinartsaid.
"Ithinkwhat'sclearisthattheresourcesweputinAfghanistanhavebeenabsolutelyminusculecomparedtoVietnamandcomparedtoIraq....In1968,wehadover500,000U.S.troopsinSouthVietnam.Wehadupuntilacoupleofyearsagoonlyabout20,000[inAfghanistan]....Sowhat'sclearis,wehaven'tmadeanywherenearthekindofcommitmenttoAfghanistanaswemadetoVietnam."
Inthepastmonth,Obama'stopcommanderinAfghanistan,Gen.StanleyMcChrystal,issuedareporttothepresidentandtheadministration,outliningtheproblemsfacingthenationandwhatresourceswillbeneeded.Hisprescription:moretroops--upwardsof40,000bysomeestimates--withthegoalfocusingonsecuringAfghantownsandcitiesincertainareas.
ACNN/OpinionResearchCorp.poll,takenOctober16-18,showed59percentofAmericansopposedsendingmoretroopsintothecountry.Thesamepollfoundthat52percentofAmericansconsiderthewarinAfghanistanhasturnedintoanotherVietnamWarsituation,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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