OBJECTIVE – This lesson will seek to expose the series of events that escalated United States involvement in the Vietnam conflict.

DISCUSSION – Ngo Dinh Diem was the corrupt leader of Vietnam .  He was supported by both the United States and France .  Why?  BECAUSE HE WAS NOT A COMMUNIST!  Diem’s corruption was so great that the people of Vietnam solidly supported the communist revolutionist Ho Chi Minh.  Supporting Minh’s efforts in the South Vietnam were the Vietcong, who threatened Diem’s government.  In the early stages if the growing conflict in Vietnam President Eisenhower had committed to supporting Diem, even thought his corruption was so great that Buddhist monks in South Vietnam had burned themselves alive in protest of his government.  JFK decided that Diem was the wrong man for the United States to support but was unsure of how to dispose the unpopular leader.  Against Kennedy’s judgment Diem was assassinated in a coup funded by the United States .  When Lyndon B. Johnson took office after the assassination of JFK the situation in Vietnam was quickly spiraling out of control.

Assignment 9.02 - Vietnam - Conflict Grows

1. Use the chapter “The Vietnam War Years” in your textbook.
2. In a Word document answer the following questions.  Then recreate the Graphic Organizer below and fill in the necessary information.
3. Once you have completed the Word Document go to the Assignment Area and click “View/Complete Assignment – 9.02 Vietnam – Conflict Grows”.  Attach your Word document and click “Submit”.

QUESTIONS

1. What was the domino theory?

2. Describe the rule of South Vietnamese leader Ngo Dinh Diem?

3. Why did the 1956 elections in Vietnam not take place?

4. Who exactly were the Vietcong (National Liberation Front)?

5. What was JFK’s policy towards Vietnam ?

6. What eventually happened to Diem (the guy the United States supported)?

7. Why was LBJ so insistent that South Vietnam NOT be taken over by the communist?

8. What was so controversial about the Gulf of Tonkin incident and the eventual resolution passed by Congress?

Complete the chart below by explaining how each administration increased America ’s involvement in Vietnam .