CLIL History

M5 The Vietnam War and the Era of Protest MATERIALS The American War in Vietnam French colonialism in Vietnam ended in 1954 after a war won by the Viet-Minh (League for Independence of Vietnam) which was an anti-colonialist movement led by Ho Chi Minh. The new independent country was divided into two parts along the 17th Parallel. The North, that was ruled by Ho Chi Minh, was Communist and was supported by the USSR and China. The South was pro-American and represented an important ally to the US in Southeast Asia, where the Communist influence was spreading. In 1961 the US sent military advisers to South Vietnam to help the local government contain the Viet Cong communist forces that were fighting a guerrilla war. The American involvement increased over the years and in 1965 President Lyndon Johnson ordered the first air attacks on North Vietnam and the immediate dispatch of 100,000 troops. Another 100,000 were sent the following year and by November 1967 the number of American soldiers in Vietnam was approaching 500,000. At the front, US casualties continued to increase and within the United States the anti-war movement had begun organizing strong protests. In 1968 North Vietnamese soldiers and Viet Cong fighters launched an attack on more than one hundred cities in the South of the country during the Tet holiday (the Vietnamese festivity celebrating the lunar New Year). The Tet offensive had a devastating effect on the morale of the American troops. In that same year President Johnson announced the suspension of bombings, the beginning of the American withdrawal from the reAmerican soldier fighting in South Vietnam. gion and the opening of negotiations with North Vietnam. ACTIVITY 4.A Read the text The American War in Vietnam and find the words which match the following definitions. 1. people killed or injured ... ..................................................... 2. people who give counsel ... ..................................................... 3. act of sending people or things somewhere ... ..................................................... 4. act of moving or taking away ... ..................................................... ACTIVITY 4.B Read the text The American War in Vietnam and decide whether the sentences are true (T) or false (F). Correct the false ones. 1. In 1954, after the anti-American war, Vietnam was divided into two parts. T F 2. South Vietnam represented an important ally to the USA in Southeast Asia. T F 3. The American military advisers helped the Viet Cong communist forces fight against North Vietnam. T F 4. In the United States an anti-war movement organized strong protests against the war. T F 5. After the Tet offensive President Johnson announced the opening of negotiations with North Vietnam. T F 43