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US Involvement and Escalation

US Involvement and Escalation. Section 30*2 pp. 942-947. LBJ Increased US Involvement . LBJ sends troops to Vietnam in 1965 Gen. Westmoreland asks for more troops S. Vietnamese army was weak and corrupt 1967: 500,000 troops in Vietnam . Fighting in the Jungle . An Elusive Enemy

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US Involvement and Escalation

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  1. US Involvement and Escalation Section 30*2 pp. 942-947

  2. LBJ Increased US Involvement • LBJ sends troops to Vietnam in 1965 • Gen. Westmoreland asks for more troops • S. Vietnamese army was weak and corrupt • 1967: 500,000 troops in Vietnam

  3. Fighting in the Jungle • An Elusive Enemy • Vietcong guerilla tactics • Elaborate tunnels • Booby-trapped terrain • Jungle conditions

  4. Fighting in the Jungle • War of Attrition • Goal: Wear out the enemy • Vietcong remained determined • Aided by USSR and China • Fighting to preserve way of life

  5. Fighting in the Jungle • Peasants Don’t Support U.S. • Napalm • Agent Orange • Search-and-destroy missions

  6. Fighting in the Jungle • Sinking Morale • Frustrated by • Guerilla warfare • Jungle conditions • Stalemate • Began to self-medicate

  7. The Early War at Home • The Great Society Suffers • War costs led to inflation and tax increase • $6b reduction in Great Society programs • Living-Room War • Daily reports of events and body count • LBJ’s credibility questioned

  8. A Nation Divided Section 30*3 pp. 948-953

  9. The Working Class War • The Draft • Most Vietnam soldiers were drafted • Many tried to manipulate the system • Medical Excuses • Joined Coast Guard or National Guard • College Deferment • 80% of soldiers from lower economic class

  10. The Working Class War • African Americans in Vietnam • Disproportionately used as ground troops • MLK: “Cruel Irony” • Racism presents challenge in platoons

  11. The Roots of Opposition • The New Left • Growing youth movement of 1960’s • Called for changes in American society • Students for a Democratic Society • Free Speech Movement

  12. Protest Movement Emerges • Doves Oppose the War • Change in college deferments causes SDS to call for civil disobedience • Criticisms of War • It was a civil war • It drained US strength • It was immoral

  13. Protest Movement Emerges • From Protest to Resistance • 200,000 draft violations during war • 4,000 imprisoned • 10,000 flee to Canada

  14. Protest Movement Emerges • War Divides the Nation • In 1967, a majority of Americans remained committed to the war • 70% thought protests were disloyal

  15. Protest Movement Emerges • LBJ Remains Determined • Continued policy of slow escalation

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