War in Vietnam - Overview

Multiple Choice

Which best summarizes the main idea of this cartoon?

• The objectives of the US in Vietnam are clear.

• The United States is well prepared for Vietnam.

• The US military is not ready for intervention in Vietnam.

• The public widely supports military action in Vietnam.

Multiple Choice

Review: Name for US foreign policy to limit the spread of communism during World War 2.

• Containment

• Detente

• Demilitarization

• Colonialism

​Ho Chi Minh

​Domino Theory - Belief by the US that if one nation "falls" to communism then other nearby nations will as well.

​War in Vietnam - Why?

• ​The United States's policy of containment led to another war in Vietnam in the 1960s. North Vietnam was supported by the Soviet Union, China, and other communist allies, while South Vietnam was supported by the United States and its allies. 

• The United States increased its involvement in the​ region due to the foreign policy of containment and the domino theory.

Multiple Select

What two foreign policies led to US war in Vietnam?

• Domino Theory

• Detente

• Isolationism

• Containment

Multiple Choice

What was the Domino Theory?

• If one nation becomes communist, others will as well.

• Communism can strengthen a nation's economy.

• The US should remain isolated in global military affairs.

• Free trade policy will prevent wars.

Gulf of Tonkin - 1964

• The United States became directly involved in the conflict with the Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964. It is unclear what exactly happened, but the United States reported that North Vietnamese ships destroyed a U.S. destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin. There are claims that the reports were falsified or completely made up.

• The incident led President Lyndon B. Johnson to sign the Gulf of Tonkin resolution declaring that the United States would defend any Southeast Asian country under threat of communist forces. This was used as the legal justification for U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

Multiple Choice

Location of the incident that led to increase US involvement in Vietnam War.

• Gulf of Mexico

• Gulf of Vietnam

• Gulf of Tonkin

• Gulf of Hawaii

Multiple Choice

What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?

• The US will remain isolated in SE Asian affairs.

• The US would defend any SE Asian country from communist influence.

• The US will seek a peaceful resolution in Vietnam.

• The Soviet Union will interfere in any US military operation in SE Asia.

​Vietnam War - Effects

​The Vietnam War was a failure for the United States. Soldiers were unprepared to fight a war in the jungle against an enemy that used guerrilla warfare and knew the land. 58,000 American soldiers died and the United States failed in its objectives as the North Vietnamese captured the capital of Saigon and united North and South Vietnam in 1974 under a communist government. 

​

The war was also very unpopular in the United States. Americans did not understand why husbands, sons, brothers, and friends were dying to defend a country most Americans had never heard of up until that time. This led to the anti-war movement, especially popular amongst young Americans who protested the war across the country. A counter-culture of protest music and art grew in the United States in opposition to United States foreign policy.

Multiple Choice

The Vietnam War was a success for the US.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The Vietnam War was widely supported in the US.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Review: Why did the US go to war in Vietnam?

• To isolate Soviet Union military arsenal.

• To liberate the North Vietnamese from Vietnam.

• It followed its policy of containment.

• To secure trade routes in the Atlantic.

Multiple Choice

Review: What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?

• The US will remain isolated in SE Asian affairs.

• The US would defend any SE Asian country from communist influence.

• The US will seek a peaceful resolution in Vietnam.

• The Soviet Union will interfere in any US military operation in SE Asia.