President Johnson and the Vietnam War Primary Source Analysis

Students will analyze different points of view on the Vietnam War by reading excerpts from speeches by LBJ in 1964 and 1965 (Special Message to Congress and Peace without Conquest) and one anti-Vietnam War text (George Ball in 1965). They will analyze the sources by answering 29 questions and completing up to 4 extension tasks.

The answers are included where appropriate and this would be great for a sub! 

Sample questions include:
--Inferring from the historical context, explain what had happened prior to this speech which led to Johnson use the phrase “further deliberate attacks.”
--Explain what the bullet points could imply for the American people and also the government/military.
--Why do you think he refers to events from Eisenhower and Kennedy’s presidencies?
--Summarize what Johnson says American young men are fighting for.
--Was America solely responsible for bringing peace to the region, why or why not?
--What is the choice facing his audience? What will be accomplished depending on the choice they make?
--Why does Ball see escalation as being inevitable?
--Does this document effectively counter any of Johnson’s earlier points, why or why not?

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