THE VIETNAM WAR1959-1975

Why did we enter Vietnam?

Domino Theory: The thought that if South Vietnam fell to communism, this would create a chain reaction in Asia and that other nations would also fall to communism

For or Against????

FOR: Hawks Stop Communism Help South

Vietnam Economically Equipment/Military

Weapons Continue Cold War

Policy of Containment

Usually Republicans or Conservatives

AGAINST: Doves Usually Democrats

or Liberals THE DRAFT The Media Time of Protest Civil Disobedience Free Speech Hippie Movement “Needless” Deaths

Hippies

Burning Draft Cards

Civil Disobedience

Penalties ranged from 6 months in prison to 2 and a

half years in prison if arrested

Public Protests, Symbols and Slogans

Media Coverage

KEY TERMS

North Vietnam Forces (THE ENEMY) Viet-Cong or VC “CHARLIE”

ARVN "Army of the

Republic of Vietnam“

(South Vietnam's army)

Friendly Fire An accidental attack,

whether by shooting or by dropping bombs, upon one's own troops, such as U.S soldiers shooting at other U.S. soldiers.

Boondock or Boonies General term for the

jungle or swampy areas in Vietnam

Opposition to the War

Started around 1964 Average Age of a U.S.

soldier was 19 American opposition to

the Vietnam War fell into the following main categories: Opposition to the draft; Moral, legal, and

pragmatic arguments against U.S. intervention;

Reaction to the media portrayal of the devastation in Southeast Asia

Opposition Continued…

The prevailing sentiment that the draft was unfairly administered

Blue collar Americans and Black Americans opposed the draft itself

WHY????? College Exemptions Blacks fought for a

country that refused to give them equal rights (during the Civil Rights Era)

Devastation

Napalm (Right)

Agent Orange (Left)

58,000+ Total Deaths

Just for the United States in Vietnam

Longest war in U.S. History

Compared to:

War on Terror=6,000+

Vietnam Memorial

Completed in 1982 58,195 names of

KIA or MIA

3+ million people visit annually