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