Transcript Document
Question of the Day 4/16 • What movie is this exchange from? Fat Man at Bench: It was a bullet, wasn't it? (main character): A bullet? Fat Man at Bench: That jumped up and bit you. (main character): Oh, yes sir. Bit me right in the buttocks. They said it was a million dollar wound, but the army must keep that money 'cause I still haven't seen a nickel of that million dollars. Forrest Gump VIETNAM Understanding both sides of the conflict Similar to North and South Korea • SOUTH • DEMOCRATIC • Supported By Democratic Countries • United States and Anti Communist allies • Modern Weapons • Chemical Weapons • NAPALM • NORTH • COMMUNIST • Supported By Communist Countries • Soviet Union • China • Weapons were dated • Guerilla warfare IMPERIALISM a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force. Vietnam freedom revolution breaks into 2 Groups North • The People's Republic of China • Soviet Union • recognized the Viet Minh's Democratic Republic of Vietnam as the legitimate government of Vietnam. • Capital in Hanoi South French- 1850s.---- Japan& French ---- Japan 1950s- French/Japan Removed • United States • Great Brittan • recognized the State of Vietnam as the legitimate Vietnamese • Capital in Saigon Ho Chi Minh • Communist Rebel leader against French and Japanese imperialism • Backed by Soviets and China • Leader of Viet Minh's Democratic Republic of Vietnam • Soon to be Leader of Communist North Vietnam DOMINO THEORY if one state in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would follow in a domino effect. Containment • Aggressive war broke out in 1950 between (Soviet and China) Communist North and (United States and Great Brittan) Democratic South • Containment was a United States policy to prevent the spread of communism abroad. example of communist expansionism directed by the Soviet Union Vietnam War Viet Cong South Vietnamese • Soviet trained and armed militants using Guerilla Warfare trying to defeat democratic south and unite Vietnam in Communism • United States backed, armed, and trained militants trying to defend democracy and overthrow the communist north to unite Vietnam in Democracy. • Use of terrorism, explosives, car bombs, Punji sticks, land mines, poison, trip wires, etc.. • Use of artillery, helicopters, gunships, 50 Caliber machine guns, napalm, The Vietnam War • The Vietcong • Fought using guerilla warfare. • Traps, tunnels, etc. Punji sticks U.S. mindset on the war First Televised war • After images of the violence hit main land America, Vietnam war became HUGELY unpopular. Where the fighting happened • Deep jungle & in the Streets of villages • Terrorist action • Human and car bombs in crowded areas Boat People • Vietnamese people Defecting from the country. Leaving on boats and landing along the U.S. coast line • Many fisherman, shrimping industry, and port workers Brain Drain • Educated Vietnamese leaving the country before the fighting escalated. • Staying in their new country, unable to go back and help build on the education Ended in 1975 when Saigon fell to the North. – now known as Ho Chi Minh City Death Toll Vietnamese Casualties American Casualties Democratic Republic of Vietnam & Viet Cong 1.1 million killed United States of America 58,286 killed and missing in action 2 Total casualties of all countries involved reach close to 1,400,000. 1.4 million lives 4 Question of the Day 4/17 •What were some things that made fighting the Viet Cong difficult for US troops? Assignment You are a US soldier • Write a letter home • Talk about the difficulty fighting against the North and guerilla warfare in this rough physical geo. • Think about the difficulty RECONGNIZING who the bad guy are in a “nation state” Aim for ¾-1 page