**This is the chapter slice "Background and Causes Gr. 5-8" from the full lesson plan "Vietnam War"** Experience the longest military conflict in U.S. history, where more than 58,000 Americans lost their lives. From 1955 to 1975, our resource highlights the events that surround this controversial war. Travel to Southeast Asia and become familiar with the climate and terrain of Vietnam. Discover how events after World War II and the United States' attempt to stop Communism from spreading led to this conflict. Learn about the different tactics Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M. Nixon used during the war. Find out what role the introduction of the helicopter took during some of the major battles. Get introduced to the SEAL teams and U.S. Navy. Step into the shoes of those who fought in the war at home by organizing a protest. Find out how the veterans who fought in Vietnam were treated differently than those who fought in wars before them. Aligned to your State Standards and written to Bloom's Taxonomy, additional hands-on activities, crossword, word search, comprehension quiz and answer key are also included.