Johnson and Vietnam Flashcards
Give three reasons why
Johnson might have escalated the war in Vietnam?
- Personal beliefs
- Domino theory
- Public support
- Situation in Vietnam
- Actions of previous presidents
Who were Johnson’s main advisers?
- Robert McNamara - Secretary of Defense
- Dean Rush - Secretary of State
When happened in the Tonkin Gulf in August 1964?
Two American ships believed that they had been fired upon by the North Vietnamese
Johnson passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution which allowed him to escalate the war.
Which two events encouraged Johnson to escalate the war in the spring of 1965.
- The Brinks Hotel bombing December 1964.
- Attack at Pleiku airbase February 1965 led to 8 deaths.
How much of South Vietnam did the VC control by 1965?
75%
What was Rolling Thunder?
Aerial bombardment of Vietnam between 1965 and 1968.
What three part strategy did the Americans have in order to win in Vietnam?
Bombing
Attrition
Search and Destroy
Where did US marines first arrive in March 1965?
Danang
How many US troops were in Vietnam by July 1965?
75,000
How many US troops were in Vietnam by 1968?
535,000
Give three examples of new technology used by the Americans.
- Cluster bombs
- Napalm
- Agent Orange
Who ruled Vietnam after 1965?
Ky and Thieu
How did the war cause domestic problems in Vietnam?
- Weak corrupt government
- ARVN was poor and corrupt
- The US dollar distorted the economy
- Problems of refugees
What was the Ho Chi Minh Trail?
A path through the jungle between North and South Vietnam.
What percentage of bombs hit the Ho Chi Minh Trail?
0.23%
How many women helped to repair the Trail?
50,000
What lesson did the Americans believe that they had learned from the Battle of Ia Drang?
They could defeat the VC by using attrition.
What were the Cu Chi Tunnels?
100 mile tunnel network under Saigon that the VC occupied.
What percentage of casualties were caused by booby traps?
11% deaths
17% wounds
In attacks how often did the VC fire first?
85%
How much were VC casualty figures padded by the US?
30%
How many fraggings were there between 1969 and 1971?
730
What percentage of the Army was African-American?
28% even though they only made up 13% of the population.
What percentage of the US Army used drugs?
58% used marijuana
22% heroin
When was the Tet Offensive?
February 1968.
How many uprisings were there across Vietnam during Tet?
120.
What did Johnson’s approval rating fall to after Tet?
36%
How many protesters were there in Washington in 1965?
70,000
How many were arrested in Chicago in 1968?
668
What was the VC casualty rate during the Tet Offensive?
70%
