OBJECTIVE – From the beginning the United States main goal in the Cold War was a policy of containment.  Rather than actively attack the source of communism we committed ourselves to restricting, or helping other resist, the spread of Communism.  Until 1965 the United States managed to continue to implement this policy but events of that year forced President Johnson and his advisors to reevaluate this plan.  Even though Johnson had campaigned on a platform that would keep the United States troops out of Vietnam the fear of Communist expansion continued to grip many Americans.  For many Americans the Cuban Missile Crisis was a very vivid memory.  When the Johnson administration announced that they would begin to deploy troops to Vietnam over 60% of Americans supported this more aggressive policy confrontation.  Johnson was determined to change the image of his Democratic Party (mainly attributed to three of his predecessors Roosevelt, Truman, and Kennedy) as being soft on Communism!  By the end of the year almost 200,000 American soldiers were in South Vietnam .  What American troops discovered in Vietnam was a war different than anything the United States had encountered before.  As the conflict continued to escalate support for the war, from the front line to the home front, began to waiver.  

Assignment 9.03 - U. S. Escalates the Conflict in Vietnam

1. Use the chapter “The Vietnam War Years” in your textbook.
2. In a Word document answer the following questions.  Then recreate the three Graphic Organizers 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 – 9.03 U.S. Escalates the Conflict in Vietnam ”.  Attach your Word document and click “Submit”.

1. How did America ’s entry into the Vietnam War contrast sharply with how we entered WWII or the Korean War?

2. What was ARVN?

3. What was the basic American strategy for victory in Vietnam ?

4. In what way did the South Vietnamese governments undermine America ’s war effort?

5. What were Agent Orange and napalm?  Why were they so controversial?

6. Why did the morale of U.S. troops steadily decline and what were some of the results of the morale drop?

7. How did the war effect government spending?

8. What was the “credibility gap”?

9. Do you think there is a similar credibility gap with the current Iraq war?

What role did each of the following play in the decision to escalate/increase U.S. military involvement in Vietnam ?

U.S. military strategies result in a bloody stalemate.  Answer the following questions to find out why.

What role did each of the following play in increasing the “credibility gap” and decreasing American support for the Vietnam War?