1. Why did the US get involved in Vietnam? 1. The defeat of the French in 1954.
Open and complete the 'Dien Bien Phu' document below. You will need the pdf as well for the last task. Remember to save your sheet to your website. LINK FOR TASK 2: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/whos/whos-vo_nguyen_giap.html |
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2. Why did the US get involved in Vietnam 2: The US perspective.
1. Watch the video by following this link.
Create a timeline with at least nine steps that explains why the USA got involved in Vietnam.
2. Know your key terms:
i) Copy and paste the key terms from the first slide of this presentation into a new page 'Key Terms Vietnam'
ii) Define each key term by reading through the rest of the powerpoint.
Create a timeline with at least nine steps that explains why the USA got involved in Vietnam.
2. Know your key terms:
i) Copy and paste the key terms from the first slide of this presentation into a new page 'Key Terms Vietnam'
ii) Define each key term by reading through the rest of the powerpoint.

vietnam_terms.pptx | |
File Size: | 181 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
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3. What were the Vietcong tactics? What were the effects of these tactics?
1. CLICK THROUGH THE POWER POINT BELOW AND DO THE FOLLOWING:
(Note: click on 'VC Tactics' image to download; you will need to watch it in present mode for interactive elements; all work should end up on your Google Site - photo etc. fine).
At Slide 5- add the Ho Chi Minh trail to your map from previous lessons
At Slide 7- Research one of the following: booby traps such as fuel tank traps, tin can trap, bamboo, holes, trip wire, punji traps, bouncing betty. Do this quickly and report back. Others make notes. You can watch 'Scariest Booby Traps' video below at this point.
At Slide 12- Draw a diagram of the features of a tunnel network (If you go to the original source, the tunnel slide becomes interactive)
At Slide 13- discuss the statements with a partner.
(Note: click on 'VC Tactics' image to download; you will need to watch it in present mode for interactive elements; all work should end up on your Google Site - photo etc. fine).
At Slide 5- add the Ho Chi Minh trail to your map from previous lessons
At Slide 7- Research one of the following: booby traps such as fuel tank traps, tin can trap, bamboo, holes, trip wire, punji traps, bouncing betty. Do this quickly and report back. Others make notes. You can watch 'Scariest Booby Traps' video below at this point.
At Slide 12- Draw a diagram of the features of a tunnel network (If you go to the original source, the tunnel slide becomes interactive)
At Slide 13- discuss the statements with a partner.
Alternative:
Teacher to show Second Video
1. Watch it together
2. Cornell Notes
2. Complete Table in Part 2 of military_experience document
Teacher to show Second Video
1. Watch it together
2. Cornell Notes
2. Complete Table in Part 2 of military_experience document
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4. Why did the US decide to withdraw from Vietnam? The Tet Offensive?
1. Setting the scene. Watch Part 1 of 20th Century Battlefields: Vietnam. Discuss: Advantages / disadvantages for the Americans? Strategy?
2. Play the game in the document below (prep required by the teacher)

the_tet_offensive.pdf | |
File Size: | 1892 kb |
File Type: |
3. Use the powerpoint below for consolidation:

tet_offensive.ppt | |
File Size: | 1899 kb |
File Type: | ppt |
4. Optional: Follow up with Activity 2 in 'The TET Offensive document'
4. Why did the US decide to withdraw from Vietnam? The My Lai Massacre
1. Use note taking frame while watching the videos
Show clip 1 (Summary of event and training of US soldiers) Up to 7 minutes (no need to go further)
Show clip 2 (effects on villagers and US soldiers). Only up to 5.40 only.
2. Read the “My Lai source exercise” (scanned)
3. Do Question 3 on the first page, then Question 4 and Question2 (in that order) on the second page
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4. Why did the US decide to withdraw from Vietnam? The Protest Movement
We have already looked at the military reasons why the USA failed to win in Vietnam - now we need to make connections to reasons why they decided to give up and leave.
While there is lots of politics behind this decision, it really boiled down to a build up of opposition to the war from a wide range of groups in society within America. Your job is to find out more about each.
While there is lots of politics behind this decision, it really boiled down to a build up of opposition to the war from a wide range of groups in society within America. Your job is to find out more about each.

protest_research_frame.docx | |
File Size: | 19 kb |
File Type: | docx |
a) The Impact of Civil Rights Leaders
As we have seen many of the soldiers were from poorer communities who could not avoid the draft. Due to the racial segregation in America at the time, this meant that many were therefore black. Civil rights leaders began to argue that this was unfair. Watch one of these videos each and share.
i) Martin Luther King |
ii) Muhammad Ali
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b) The Kent State Massacre
As the war continued, more and more people got frustrated with it - they increasingly saw it as not only cruel on the people of Vietnam, but also unfair because of the draft system. As protests increased by students, the government tried to crack down using force. The result was the Kent State Massacre - look at the resource below and complete the Kent State section.
Click here
Click here
c) The Impact of youth culture - music
Below are links to a series of pop songs that became extremely popular with the young people in America during the Vietnam War. Listen and watch two of them each & share.
Barry McGuire: "Eve of destruction"
Elvis Priestly: " I can dream"
Credence Clearwater Revival: 'Fortunate Son"
Neil Young: "Ohio"
John Lennon: 'Give me some truth"
Barry McGuire: "Eve of destruction"
Elvis Priestly: " I can dream"
Credence Clearwater Revival: 'Fortunate Son"
Neil Young: "Ohio"
John Lennon: 'Give me some truth"
d) The Politicians
As the war went on and became more an more unpopular, politicians began to criticise it more and more - partly as a way of getting votes. Richard Nixon produced the following video to try and get himself elected in 1968. Use it to complete the 'politicians' section:
Extension: The photographers
Have a look through these iconic photos of the Vietnam War on the BBC website, reading the explanation. You need to pick two that you think would have had the most impact on the American people's support for the war - you need to be able to explain why you picked the two that you did.
Click here
Click here
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5. The withdrawal of the US from Vietnam
EITHER:
VIETNAM, SCRAP BOOK CHALLENGE
VIETNAM, SCRAP BOOK CHALLENGE

vietnam_scrapbook_assessment.docx | |
File Size: | 30 kb |
File Type: | docx |