War at Home and Abroad

War at Home and Abroad

29.2

Main Idea

• As the US sent increasing numbers of troops to defend South Vietnam, some Americans began to question the war.

The Air War

• First US method of attack is a series of bombing missions against strategic targets called Operation Rolling Thunder.

• Targeted roads, bases, and power plants.• Trails that linked the North to Vietcong allies in

the south were also targets.

The Air War

• To combat the thick jungle vegetation, Agent Orange

• This chemical killed nearly anything it touched and contaminated the water supplies.

• Napalm, a sprayable, flammable chemical was used to destroy farms and rout out enemies.

Effects of Agent Orange

Napalm

The Air War

• The US had hoped to break the will to fight of the North Vietnamese, instead they intensified it.

• More South Vietnamese also joined the ranks of the Vietcong.

• More support (weapons, technology) came from China and the USSR

The Air War

• Many supplies were being smuggled to the south through Cambodia and Laos

• This broadening of the war cost the US many supporters at home, and abroad.

The Ground War

• General William Westmoreland: in charge of ground forces.

• Great difficulty in fighting the guerrilla techniques of enemies

• Soldiers never truly knew who the enemy was

Troop Morale

• Troops became frustrated

• Always concerned about trust, booby traps!

• Difficult to measure success, every town taken would fall back into enemy hands once troops left

The Draft

• The need for troops forced the government to increase the draft.

• Many Americans answered the call and served proudly.

• Some considered this unfair.

• Violators either fled the US or spent time in jail.

Public Opinion

• TV crews were allowed to film combat operations (1st war for TV)

• Reporters often criticized the military and government officials.

• The violence of war was brought from Asia all the way home to Americans living rooms

• Many AA, who were protesting for Civil Rights, resented the involvement of blacks in the war.

Antiwar Movement Grows

• Most of the protests began at colleges

• Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organized actions across the nation.

• The opponents of Vietnam were many, but greatly outnumbered by supporters of the war.

• These supporters were usually working men and women who were not as vocal as the protesters.