The Vietnam War

1
Unit 4

• The Vietnam War
• Debates

2
Debates

• Why did America get Involved?
• Why America Lost?
• Why was the USA unable to win?

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Why did America get involved?

• Help France
• Cold War Anti-Communism
• Contain China
• Domino Theory
• Quagmire Theory
• Presidential Decisions
• Public Support
• Congressional Support

4
Why did America get involved?

• Stalemate Theory
• Aggression and Militarism
• Balance of Power
• Advisors and Institutions
• Obligation and Credibility
• Economic Interest

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2. Why America Lost?

• Military Tactics
• Protests
• South Vietnams Weakness
• North Vietnams Strengths
• Soviet and Chinese Aid
• Presidential Restraint and Retreat

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3. Why was the USA unable to win?

• South Vietnamese Communist Strengths
• Used to hard life
• Tried to win hearts and minds of people
• Enlisted for years
• Heroism
• People-power seemed unstoppable
• Communism and underground organisations easily
  superimposed on traditional village life
• Soviet and Chinese aid

• Some American weaknesses
• Used to easy living
• Bombed non-combatants and used Agent Orange on
  sub-humans
• 365 day Tour of Duty
• Drugs, R and R
• High-tech weapons distanced forces from people
• Upset traditional Vietnamese social system,
  cultural misunderstandings
• Home Front collapsed

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3. Why was the USA unable to win?

• Unrealistic aims
• Unwise methods
• Weakness of South Vietnamese ally
• Loss of confidence Mcnamara
• Tet offensive
• Anti-war protests

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3. Why was the USA unable to win?

• Congressional uneasiness
• Loss of confidence the Wise Men
• Hostile media
• Financial and Economic problems
• Loss of confidence Johnson
• North Vietnam aided by China and USSR