Escalation I
Who were two strong supporters of LBJ’s decision to send in troops? What were the positions in LBJ’s cabinet? (2)
Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and Secretary of State Dean Rusk.
By 1967, how many American troops were in Vietnam? (4)
By 1967, there were almost 500,000 U.S. soldiers in the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam).
In general, what did the Vietcong use because they did not have advanced weapons? (6 + 7 + 8)
A different fighting style than Americans experienced in WWI, WWII or the Korean War. U.S. soldiers in South Vietnam did not know who or where their enemy was.
Why did Vietnamese peasants not support U.S. troops? (8)
U.S. military tactics harmed many peasants.
What impact did the frustrations of fighting the Vietcong have on U.S. troops? (9)
Why did Vietnamese peasants not support U.S. troops? (8)
The war caused the morale of U.S. soldiers to sink morale - the confidence, enthusiasm, and discipline of a person or group at a particular time.
How did LBJ’s advisers feel about him sending in troops into Vietnam? (1)
Some of LBJ’s advisers opposed sending troops into South Vietnam (a.k.a., the Republic of Vietnam), but most support it.
By the end of 1965, how many U.S. troops were sent into Vietnam? Where specifically were they sent? (4)
By the end of 1965, 180,000 U.S. troops were in South Vietnam (a.k.a., the Republic of Vietnam).
Instead of achieving a quick victory, what did the war turn into? (5)
The Vietnam War turned into a bloody stalemate. stalemate - any position or situation in which no action can be taken or progress made; a deadlock.
Whose support could U.S. troops not win? (8)
The could not win the support of the South Vietnamese peasants.
What impact did napalm and Agent Orange of these weapons have on the South Vietnamese peasants? (9)
Both weapons wounded the people in the village and ruined their villages--homes, farms, livestock, etc.
Where did LBJ begin sending troops in 1965? Who would they be fighting? (1)
He began sending U.S. troops to fight the Vietcong in South Vietnam (a.k.a., the Republic of Vietnam).
Who was the United States commander in South Vietnam (a.k.a., the Republic of Vietnam)? (4)
General William Westmoreland.
Why did the U.S. believe it would achieve a quick victory over the Vietcong? (5)
The U.S. believed its superior weaponry would lead to a quick victory.
What kind of missions did the U.S. use that angered peasants? Explain how these missions were conducted. (9)
The U.S conducted search-and-destroy missions. In these missions the U.S. destroyed villages that they believed were supporting Vietcong soldiers.
What were two weapons the U.S. used that angered the peasants? Explain what each does. (8 + 9)
The U.S. used napalm, a gasoline bomb, that set fire to the jungle to expose Vietcong tunnels and hideouts. The U.S. also used Agent Orange, a leaf-killing chemical, that destroyed the jungle landscape to expose Vietcong tunnels and hideouts.
What was the public’s reaction to LBJ’s decision to send in troops? Why? (3)
Much of the public agreed with LBJ’s decision to send troops into the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), because it will help stop the spread of communism.
What did the U.S. commander in the Republic of Vietnam ask for in an effort to build a more effective fighting force? (4)
General Westmoreland asked for even more U.S. troops.
What did the Vietcong refuse to do in the war? (7)
They refused to surrender. Although the Vietcong suffered many battlefield deaths, they continued to fight on.
Why did president Johnson’s Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State support him sending troops into Vietnam? (2)
Both believed that the U.S. must defeat communism in the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam); otherwise, it will spread to other surrounding countries.
What was the U.S. commander in the Republic of Vietnam not impressed with? Why? (4)
Westmoreland was not impressed with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN); he did not see them as an effective fighting force.
What four tactics were part of the Vietcong’s style of warfare? (6)
a) They used hit-and-run ambush tactics;b) they struck quickly in small groups; c) they then disappeared into the jungle; and, d) they used an elaborate system of tunnels. e) This method of fighting is referred to as guerrilla warfare.