Johnson 1961-69. FOREIGN POLICY

Question 1

Why did Johnson continue involvement in Vietnam?

Answer 1

-Containment and the Domino Theory
-Kennedy Legacy
-Saigon government failings
general Minh was even less capable than Diem
-Working group pressure

Question 2

Who were the working group?

Answer 2

The 1964 state department

Question 3

1st Wave

Answer 3

Operation Rolling Thunder
approved 24th February 1965
1st attack- March 2nd when 100 planes attacked 
643,000 tons of bombs were dropped
900 aircraft lost
Cost:
Vietnam- $300 million USA-$900 million

Question 4

2nd Wave

Answer 4

Previously there were only advisors in Vietnam but sent troops to ‘search and destroy’
The USA judged success on body count and everyone dead was counted as Vietcong

Question 5

Figures supporting 2nd wave

Answer 5

1965- 75% of the nation supported Johnson and 45% wanted to increase troops

1965- 3,500 troops
1967- 535,000 troops

Question 6

Guerrilla warfare

Answer 6

Guerrilla = little war
Hit and run style
the Vietcong set booby traps, landmines and planted bombs

always close = airstrikes were impossible

Question 7

Quagmire Theory

Answer 7

Quagmire = sinking hole

Described the Vietnam war as this because the US couldn’t get out

Question 8

The Tet Offensive

Answer 8

January 1968
126 cities were attacked including Saigon
USA weren’t prepared and hadn’t suffered losses like this previously
DEATH COUNT:
3895 USA
4954 South Vietnamese
58,373 Vietcong

Question 9

Western Allies

Answer 9

Japan: criticised escalation and sold weapons to both sides
Canada: PM Pearson made a critical speech on Johnson

Question 10

Charlie De Gaulle

Answer 10

‘Bombing of a very small people by a very large one’
Withdrew from NATO in 1966
Removal of NATO head quarters and 26,000 troops in France