18. Vietnam
INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES
Students will be able to:• | Understand the circumstances leading up to Lyndon Johnson’s commitment of ground
troops to Vietnam |
• | Understand the arguments, pro and con, for large-scale U.S. involvement in Vietnam |
DESCRIPTION
Students will work in groups to read a background of events that led up to Johnson’s decision
to Americanize the Vietnam conflict. They will read the views of the Hawks and the Doves and
debate in a historical role-play as one side or the other, trying to convince Johnson to engage
or to withdraw from Vietnam.
TIME
One or two class periods
MATERIALS
Johnson’s Hawks and Doves handout (copy for each student)Vietnam Involvement Pro and Con (copy for each student)The Decision to Americanize the War (copy for each student)
CLASS LAYOUT AND GROUPING OF STUDENTS
Students will work in small groups prior to engaging in the point-counterpoint debate involving the entire class.
PROCEDURE
1. | Explain that the Vietnam War deeply divided, and still divides, Americans. Tell the students
that they will explore the circumstances leading to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s decision to commit combat troops to war. They will read a synopsis of the views of those
pushing for American intervention, the Hawks, and those opposed, the Doves. Students
will then form teams of Hawks or Doves and prepare arguments that they would make to
encourage LBJ to take their viewpoint, based on information known at the time. |
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