Introduction
In 1965, the United States became involved in the Vietnam War. In order to contain the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, the USA began sending military troops to support the democratic government of South Vietnam. With casualties mounting on the battlefront and increasing deployment of Americans to Asia, the Vietnam conflict sparked a massive anti-war protest in America. In addition, the late 1960s and 1970s were defined by numerous “power movements,” groups that demanded equality (including African Americans, women, Mexican-Americans, people accused of crimes). The youthful, “hippie” counter-culture was a visible part of the era as well. Conservative Americans reacted to the counter-culture protests by electing Richard Nixon into office in 1968. Despite great success in dealing with China, the Soviet Union, and the economy, Nixon’s involvement in the Watergate scandal led to widespread distrust of the government. Nixon’s successors, Presidents Ford and Carter, did little to instill hope among Americans.
Task
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/50-years-ago-cbs-news-report-from-vietnam-sparked-u-s-outrage/#x
Students will create a 5-7 minute news show summarizing the Vietnam War. Students will work in groups of 4-5 students to create the presentation. Students have the option to use the technology of their choosing to create the new show. Students can use the following questions below to guide their presentation.
Unit 14 Reading Guide: Vietnam War & the 1970s
Chapter 30, Section 1
- What was the difference between the “Vietminh” and the “Vietcong”?
- Which president used the “domino theory” to defend U.S. support of France in Indochina?
- Why did Ngo Dinh Diem’s religious beliefs make him unpopular in South Vietnam?
- What act of Congress gave President Johnson (LBJ) broad military powers in Vietnam?
Chapter 30, Section 2
- What was napalm? What was Agent Orange?
- In what ways was Vietnam America’s first “living room war?”
Chapter 30, Section 3
- What was the purpose of the Selective Service System?
- In what way was the Vietnam War a “lower class” war?
- What was the SDS?
Chapter 30, Section 4
- How did the Tet Offensive in 1968 change attitudez among many Americans towards the Vietnam War?
- Why were so many antiwar protesters in Chicago in August 1968?
- Who was elected president in 1968?
Chapter 30, Section 5
- What did Nixon mean by his policy of “Vietnamization”?
- Why were four students killed at Kent State and two students killed at Jackson State in May 1970?
- What were the “Pentagon Papers”?
- When did the U.S. withdraw its last combat troops from Vietnam?
- How did the U.S. get itself into the Vietnam conflict and why was it unable to win the war?
Process
Watch the following three videos to help provide perspective on the Vietnam War. Be prepared for your classmates to ask questions at the end of your presentation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR9FXLWDOHo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89_3DgW_7mg
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/postwarera/1960s-america/v/vietnam-war
Evaluation
| # | Beginning | Developing | Proficient | Score | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Content | Basic information is presented, although content is not full explained and doesn't flow. | At least five facts are presented, content is explained and the content is in chronological order. | More than five facts are presented, content is fully explained and the content is in chronological order. | 25 | |||||
| Pictures | 1-2 Vietnam pictures are shown during the news show. | One Vietnam picture is shown during the news show. | More than 5 Vietnam pictures are shown and video is displayed during the news show. | 25 | |||||
| Professionalism | Students are profesionally dressed but the production of the news show is poor. |
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25 | |||||
| Timeliness | Video of news show is not turned in on the day of the due date. | Video of news show is turned in on the day of the due date. | Video of news show is turned in before the day of the due date. | 25 |
Conclusion
Upon completion of the presentation news show, students should be able to analyze U.S. international and domestic policies including their influences on technological advancements and social changes during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations in regards to the Vietnam War (SSUSH21).