Vietcong resistance
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the aims and methods of the Vietcong.
Key learning points
- The Vietcong were a guerilla group opposed to Diem's government in South Vietnam.
- The Strategic Hamlets Program was created by Diem's government to combat the Vietcong.
- US President, John F. Kennedy, increased America's involvement in Vietnam.
- Diem was assassinated because of his repressive policies, such as the Strategic Hamlets Program.
Keywords
Regime - a regime is a government, especially an authoritarian one, which enforces strict obedience at the expense of personal freedom
Hamlet - a hamlet is a small settlement, generally smaller than a village
Vietcong - the Vietcong were the communist guerilla group who opposed the South Vietnam army (the ARVN) and US forces with the help of North Vietnam
Guerilla - a guerilla is a member of a small, loosely-organised army that fights a larger, stronger force and uses surprise tactics
Common misconception
There is often confusion between guerilla and gorilla!
Same sound, different spelling, very different meaning! 'Guerilla' comes from the Spanish word 'guerra', meaning 'war'.
Teacher tip
Encourage students to place themselves in the position of the Vietnamese peasants who were forced to partake in the Strategic Hamlets Program in order to help them understand the sense of injustice the South Vietnamese people felt.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
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.Which country was the first in the world to adopt a communist government?
Q2.Why did anti-communist feeling in the US reduce during the Second World War?
Q3.Complete the sentence: The War began in 1950, when the communist North invaded the democratic South.
Q4.Where was the Conference held in 1954 that divided Vietnam temporarily into North and South?
Q5.Who was the unpopular prime minister of South Vietnam who persecuted Buddhists?
Q6.Which US president was the first to send aid and advisors to South Vietnam?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Sort the following events into the order in which they occurred.
Q2.How did the Vietcong get support from peasant farmers?
Q3.Match the keywords with the correct definitions.
member of a small, loosely-organized army
authoritarian government
a small settlement
Q4.What was the objective of the Strategic Hamlets Program?
Q5.Complete the following sentence. Under Kennedy, US troop numbers in Vietnam increased to ...
Q6.The Vietcong were directed and funded by North Vietnam, supplied via secret jungle paths known as the Trail.
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: Vietcong resistance, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: Vietcong resistance, 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.