Vietnam War

Tonkin Gulf Resolution

• we got shot at, returned fire

• U.S. then made up lies of a NV attack and then U.S. attacked NV

Johnson Increases Involvement

• many supported the effort to contain communism

• U.S. sends large numbers of troops to fight with SV

Troop Buildup Accelerates

• 1965-180,000 Americans drafted

• General Westermoreland asks for more troops

• Within 2 years, 500,000 drafted

Problems in The Jungle

• napalm - gasoline based bomb

• agent orange - leaf killing toxic chemical (caused cancer)

• search and destroy missions - would bomb villages.

• Vietcong used tunnels to adapt again U.S. They had to adapt.

A Nation Divided

• Conscientious Objector - someone who opposed the war on moral or religious beliefs.

  • May still have to serve. Non combat positions. Usually Medic.

Working Class Goes to War

• Draft

  • All males registered at 18

  • If they were healthy they would be called to military service

• Common way to avoid the draft was going to college.

  • Those who could go to college were usually white and financially well off.

• Those who fought were majority lower class and non-white.

  • 80% came from lower class

• 10,000 woman served as nurses.

  • They believed that women weren't strong enough

Students Become Active

• College Campuses

  • 1965 students became politically active.

  • Participated in civil rights struggle.

  • Vocal Protests

• The New Left

  • The movement wanted to move the nation toward social changes in American society.

• Why did they protest the war?

  • Some felt it was a civil war and the US had no reason to be involved.

  • Didn’t see a way to win.

  • Distrust in the president.

  • Sending young kids to war.

War Continues to DIVIDE the Nation

• There were two sides regarding the war

  • Doves - Those who opposed the war and believed U.S. withdraw.

  • Hawks - Those who felt America should unleash much of its greater military force to win.

• A pull showed 70% of Americans believed the war protests were disloyal.