| American Escalation in Vietnam (1950-1965) |
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Sections:- The Pentagon Papers: Report by the National Security Council on the Position of the United States with Respect to Indochina (27 February 1950)
- Dwight D. Eisenhower: on the War in Indochina (1953)
- Dwight D. Eisenhower : Domino Theory Principle (1954 )
- Secretary of State John Foster Dulles: Indochina - Views of the United States on the Eve of the Geneva Conference (March 29, 1954)
- The Geneva Agreements: Agreement on the Cessation of the Hostilities in Viet-Nam (July 20, 1954)
- Southeast Asia Collective Defensive Treaty: The Manila Pact (8 September 1954)
- The Pentagon Papers: The Origins of the Insurgency in South Vietnam (1954-1960)
- News Magazine of the Screen: Civil war in Saigon (1955)
- President Kennedy: UN Speech on Vietnam (1961)
- President Kennedy: “It’s Their War.” (1963)
- President Johnson: Message to Congress (5 August 1964)
- Joint Resolution of Congress H.J. RES 1145 (7 August 1964)
- Universal Newsreel: Johnson on Vietnam: Vows to Fight On Until Reds Parley (1965)
- Bicycled Supplies on the Ho Chi Min Trail
- American Escalation in Vietnam PowerPoint
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| Historical Context
This report by the National Security Council illustrates the U.S. concern about the spread of communism in South East Asia following World War II. As indicated here, the policy of containment was adopted by the U.S. fairly early on.
Attached Document:
Included here is a copy of the Pentagon Papers.
Questions to consider:
1)Which countries is the U.S. concerned about falling to communism in this document? Why?
2)What key player in Vietnam is discussed in this document? Why is he important?
3)What countries’ governments were officially recognized as legitimate by the U.S.?
4)What conclusion does this document reach regarding a solution to the problem?
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| Historical Context
In 1953, Eisenhower delivered a speech on the geopolitical considerations of the war in Indochina relative to France and the United States.
Attached Document:
Included here is a clip of Eisenhower's speech.
Questions to consider:
1)What are the types of reasons Eisenhower uses to support the French in Indochina?
2)What countries does he predict would fall next?
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| Historical Context
In this news conference, President Eisenhower discusses the importance of Indochina in terms of the containment of Communism and international trade.
Attached Document:
Included here is the text of Eisenhower's speech.
Questions to consider:
1)Why does the President feel that keeping Communism out of Indochina is important?
2)How does his analogy of the “falling domino” relate to South East Asia and beyond?
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| Historical Context
In this statement by Secretary of State Dulles, he expresses his concern for the nationalist movement in Indochina, declaring it is being influenced directly by the Soviet Union. He also expresses a fear of Red China using its forces in the region to support an uprising. Again, there are overtones in this document expressing a need for containment of Communism in South East Asia.
Attached Document:
Here is the text of Dulles' speech prior to the Geneva Conference of 1954.
Questions to consider:
1)Why does Dulles feel that Communism in Indochina is being influenced by the Soviet Union? What other Communist country seems to be encouraging the nationalist movement in Indochina?
2)Who are the nationalists in Indochina fighting against?
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| Historical Context
The Geneva Agreements theoretically ended the war between French Union forces and the Vietminh in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. These states were to become fully independent countries, with the last-named partitioned near the 17th parallel into two states pending reunification through "free elections" to be held by July 20, 1956. The United States and Vietnam are not signatories to these agreements.
Attached Document:
Included here are the text of the Geneva Agreements and a clip of the signing of the Geneva Accords.
Questions to consider:
1)How was the Joint Commission to be set-up? What were its responsibilities?
2)What countries are to be part of the International Commission to oversee the execution of the provisions?
3)How are disputes to be handled by the International Commission?
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| Historical Context
This document represents the response by the United States to the Geneva pact. It is a bit more explicit in its discussion of armed attacks.
Attached Document:
Included here is the text of the Southeast Asia Collective Defensive Treaty.
Questions to consider:
1)What organization does this document declare the “Parties” should maintain accordance with?
2)How are international disputes to be handled?
3)What is to happen in the case of armed aggression?
4)Who is responsible for the maintenance of international peace?
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| Historical Context
Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, American leaders were determined to prevent Vietnam from becoming a unified communist state, even supporting an openly corrupt Ngo Dinh Diem until his assassination in 1963. The following document discusses the failure of the Geneva Settlement and recounts the steps which led to the U.S. support of Diem.
Attached Document:
Included here is the text of the Pentagon Papers entitled "the Origins of the Insurgency in South Vietnam.
Questions to consider:
1)Why, according to this document, did the Geneva Settlement fail?
2)Who did the U.S. chose to support as the leader in South Vietnam? What was the alternative?
3)How did this new leader view the Geneva Settlement? According to this document, was the U.S. involved in guiding him to this view?
4)What was the U.S. stance on the Geneva Settlement?
5)Why were refugees from North Vietnam important to the South Vietnam Government?
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| Historical Context
This story was part of the Summer 1955 review. It summarizes the story of the Civil War which broke out in Saigon and was eventually brought to a successful end for the South Vietnamese government. (0:25)
Attached Document:
Included here is a clip summarizing the outbreak of conflict in Vietnam in 1955.
Questions to consider:
1)Who would the civil war have been between?
2)From whom was the victorious side receiving aide?
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| Historical Conflict
A speech in the United Nations where the President deconstructs the notion that conflicts throughout Indochina were "wars of liberation". (0:46)
Attachd Document:
Kennedy's speech in the United Nations is included here.
Questions to consider:
1) What countries' borders does JFK claim have been "violated"?
2) How does he describe these countries? |
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| Historical Context
From an interview with Walter Cronkite, President Kennedy states that the people of Vietnam, not Americans, must win their war against communism.(0:42)
During the same Cronkite interview, the President dismisses the notion of US withdrawal from Vietnam on the grounds of protecting Indochina from the domination of communist powers.
Attached Documents:
Included here are two clips from the interview.
Questions to consider:
1)What was JFK’s stance on American involvement in Vietnam?
2)How was the war going to be won, according to this clip?
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| Historical Context
In this message, President Johnson announces aggressive action taken against U.S. naval forces by North Vietnam. He goes on to outline what the U.S. policy should be in answer to this incident.
Also included below is a film clip showing the Navy's version of the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. This film clip discusses how a US Naval Ship was attacked by North Vietnamese patrol boats. It claims the torpedo attack was unprovoked. (0:37)
Attached Documents
Johnson's message to Congress and a clip presenting the Navy's version of the Gulf of Tonkin Incident.
Questions to consider:
1)What events sparked this announcement?
2)Upon what document does Johnson base the U.S.’s commitments to South Vietnam?
3)What does Johnson propose to do? |
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| Historical Context
Popularly known as the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, this piece of legislation was passed by Congress in support of Johnson’s proposals included above.
Attached Document
Included here is the text of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
Questions to consider:
1)What does this resolution mean for the U.S.?
2)Why does Congress regard this action as appropriate?
3)Who decides when the resolution expires?
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| Historical Context
In this speech to the Association of American Cartoonists, Johnson expresses his hopefulness for a peaceful Vietnam. He also puts forth a policy of “staying the course” until the Communists are ready to negotiate peacefully. (2:25)
Attached Document:
Included here is the clip of Johnson's address.
Questions to consider:
1)What analogy does President Johnson use to describe Red China and North Vietnam?
2)What does Johnson say he is doing to alleviate tensions in Vietnam?
3)What does he claim will bring an end to the war?
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| Historical Context
This silent video footage depicts the North Vietnamese carrying supplies by bicycle along the Ho Chi Min Trail. (0:07)
Attached Document:
Included here is a clip depicting the supplies being delivered via the Ho Chi Min Trail.
Questions to consider:
1)What does this clip say about how well equipped the North Vietnamese were?
2)What would be advantages and disadvantages of running supplies in this manner?
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| | Below is a PowerPoint Presentation which may be used in the classroom and includes the above material. This file is a ZIP archive which contains all media and must be "unzipped" to play properly. |
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