US INVOLVEMENT IN VIETNAM GROWS

JOHNSON• After Gulf of _____________ Vietnam

shifts into high gear

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER• First major bombing campaign on

the north• Hoped it would convince the north

to stop helping the Vietcong• American soldiers moved beyond

their “advisor” roles now

WILLIAM WESTMORELAND• General • In charge of S. Vietnam• Believed we needed

more presence in Vietnam – more fighting in order to win

• Believed it would “Americanize” the war

1965-1973• 6 million tons of

bombs dropped!• 3 times the amount

in WWII

NAPALM• Jellied gasoline –

dropped in large canisters

• Exploded creating massive flames

• Clung to ANYTHING it touched!

• Hard to put out!

NAPALM• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or_9B677RXg&safe=active

AGENT ORANGE• Herbicide that killed

plant life• Half of S. Vietnam

sprayed at least once• Disrupt the enemy’s

food supply

• Causes cancer and other physical problems

• 1965 - 184,000 troops --- 636 Americans dead

• 1968 – 550,000 troops --- 30,000 Americans dead

VIETCONG• Fought small battles

with the US• Jump out of foliage

with grenades and rifles

• Mostly fought at night

1965• By now, most men had been

drafted• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

IiZxCsZRPo4&safe=active

ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT EMERGES

• By 1967, congress and US were divided

• Hawks – those who supported Johnson

• Supported containing communism

• Accepted rising troop levels, cost and deaths

• Doves – Liberals, pacifists, student radicals and Civil Rights leaders

• Questioned the morality of the war

• Many considered it a civil war in the US

WRITING EXERCISE

In a two paragraph essay, answer the two questions and hand in. Each paragraph must answer one question. You may us the book on pages 537-543 to help you write your answers.

1. How were Communist combat tactics different from those of American troops?

2. What difficulties did American soldiers face in Vietnam? What effects did these difficulties have?