Johnson Flashcards
What happened before August 1964?
CIA carried out missions across NVN
Included raiding the coastline and spying mission code name OPLAN 34A
One ship involved was the Maddox
When was the Tonkin Gulf incident
August 1964
What happened at the Tonkin Gulf
- Claimed 2 American ships (Maddox and Turner Joy) have been fired upon
- LBJ makes this public
- Doubts emerge as to whether the attack actually took place - Sailors were nervous could have been a Torpedo or fish
What was the Tonkin Gulf resolution
Enabled the president to wage war
Congress passed the Resolution believing American lives were at risk
Why was the Tonkin Gulf Resolution not properly debated
Senate was 2/3 empty
Vote when the Tonkin Gulf Resolution was passed
88-2
How did LBJ describe the Tonkin Gulf Resolution
- Referred to it as ‘grandma’s nightshirt’ as it covered everything
- Seen as a ‘blank cheque’
What did LBJ’s approval rating rise to after the Tonkin Gulf
42% to 72%
What did the Working Group recommend in 1965
- Domino Theory is real
- Independent SVN is crucial to US credibility
- Saigon is weak and needs escalation to survive
- Heavy Bombing will force the North to negotiate
Who won the 1964 Presidential elections
Johnson
Who was LBJ’s opponent in the 1964 elections
Barry Goldwater - seen as dangerous due to comments on nuclear weapons
What was Rolling Thunder
Ariel Bombardment (bombing) of Vietnam 1955-68
What % of Americans supported Rolling Thunder
67%
How many times was the leader of Vietnam changed between 1964-67
5
Which US ambassadors supported escalation
Cabot-Lodge and Maxwell Taylor
Which 2 events encouraged further escalation in the 60s
Brinks Hotel Bombing (Dec 1964)
Pleiku airbase (Feb 1965) - 8 American servicemen died
What was the aim of Rolling Thunder
- Aimed to secure position of Americans in SVN
- Demoralise Hanoi
- Pressure them to negotiate
Who was Dr Quat replaced by after 1965
-Ky and Thieu
-‘absolutely bottom of the barrel’
How much of SVN did the VC control by 1965
75%
How many troops were in Vietnam by July 1965
Rose from 75,000 to 125,000
When was the Battle of La Drang
Nov 1965
What was the Battle of La Drang
A search and destroy operation
US soldiers landed to find that they were outnumbered by the VC
How were the US saved in the battle of La Drang
Operation Flaming Dart
All aircraft diverted to drop their bombs on La Drang
How many troops were in Vietnam in 1966
385,000
How many troops were in Vietnam in 1968
535,000
What did a 1965 poll reveal
-70% of Americans backed Johnson
-80% believed the Domino Theory was real
-47% encouraged further escalation
Why were the US unable to win over hearts and minds in Vietnam
Lack of understanding
Guerilla Warfare
High tech war
Corruption inn SVN
Saigon regime
ARVN
What were the 3 US tactics to win the war under Johnson
Rolling thunder (heavy bombing)
Attrition
Search and Destroy
Why did a lack of understanding mean that the US failed to win over hearts and minds
-Vietnam was a real culture shock for many Americans who failed to understand why communism was so popular
-Communists were also ruthless in Hue - 1968 3000 civilians killed by communists
Why did High Tech War mean that the US failed to win over hearts and minds
-Napalm often hit civilians
-Agent orange - 1962+ - defoliant - stripped leaves from jungle to find HCM trail - caused cancer and destroyed crops
-Cluster bombs - 1 bomb with 350-600 baby bombs inside
Why did the Saigon Regime mean that the US failed to win over hearts and minds
-No history of democracy in Vietnam
-Strongly nationalistic
-Govt and military corruption
-Thieu ruled with 37% of the electorate - fixed elections
Why did Guerilla Warfare mean that the US failed to win over hearts and minds
-Guerilla fighters hid in civilian population - difficult to identify the VC - every civilian was a threat
-Offensive language ‘gook/dink’
-Poor treatment of civilians
-My Lai massacre - 347 killed
Why did Corruption in SVN mean that the US failed to win hearts and minds
-1/3 of the population forced to move to cities
-Rise in crime - begging/sex work/drugs
-US dollar distorted the economy
-Waiter in a US bar earnt more than a Vietnamese doctor
Why did ARVN mean that the US failed to win hearts and minds
-Seen as cowards - ‘search and destroy’
-Military appointments based on politics not skill and ability
-Religious divide - Catholics preserved
-Corruption and low pay but fought bravely when cornered
Reasons why the US lost because of the popularity and organisation of the communists
Determination
Ho Chi Minh trail
Battle of La Drang
Ingenuity
How did the determination of the VC
