The expansion of the war into Cambodia, Laos and North Vietnam, 1969-1972
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how bombing campaigns changed the war.
Key learning points
- The Nixon Doctrine made the US position clear: they would support South Vietnam against communism but remove troops.
- Nixon engaged in official and secret negotiations to end the war.
- Nixon expanded the war by attacking the Ho Chi Minh Trail in neighbouring Cambodia and Laos.
- The US public and Congress were furious when they discovered that Nixon had expanded the war into other countries.
- After a large invasion from the North Vietnamese, Nixon ordered heavy bombing of North Vietnam.
Keywords
Doctrine - a doctrine is a stated position of government policy, usually in foreign or military affairs
Negotiation - a negotiation is a discussion aimed at reaching an agreement
Trail - a trail is a track made by repeated passage, usually far removed from an urban setting
Common misconception
Negotiations are quick affairs.
Negotiations can sometimes take place over many years before any progress is made.
Teacher tip
During the utility task, make it clear to students that all sources are useful to some degree: even if they don't support students' knowledge, they can tell us what people thought or perhaps why they might have distorted the truth.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What event at the start of 1968 significantly altered the perception of US citizens towards the Vietnam War?
Q2.Complete the sentence: Nixon claimed to have a plan to bring 'peace with ' in Vietnam.
Q3.What was the goal of Vietnamisation in regards to US ground troops?
Q4.By 1970, how many US troops had been withdrawn from Vietnam?
Q5.Complete the sentence: towards the end of the war, use amongst US soldiers increased dramatically.
Q6.What was the problem with the training manuals for heavy equipment that the US gave to the South Vietnamese Army?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How long had Nixon been president before announcing the Nixon Doctrine?
Q2.Match the keywords to the correct definitions.
a stated position of government policy, usually in foreign affairs
a discussion aimed at reaching an agreement
a track made by repeated passage
Q3.Complete the sentence: Nixon employed the ' strategy' during secret negotiations with North Vietnam.
Q4.Which two countries that were not at war with the US contained parts of the Ho Chi Minh Trail?
Q5.Which city in Laos was attacked and briefly captured by the ARVN with help from US air support in 1971?
Q6.What was the codename given to the huge aerial bombardment of North Vietnam in response to the Easter Offensive in 1972?
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: The expansion of the war into Cambodia, Laos and North Vietnam, 1969-1972, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: The expansion of the war into Cambodia, Laos and North Vietnam, 1969-1972, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the The USA, 1954–75 conflict at home and abroad unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.