Johnson: escalation of the war in Vietnam

Question 1

Situation of Vietnam inherited by Vietnam (Johnson’s aims)

Answer 1

• Kennedy had increased military advisors
• Confifdent china and communist rebels in Laos and Cambodia
• South Vietnam protected bu US created SEATO supported by general Minh and 17,000 American advisers
• 1968: America had 535,000 troops in south V
• J wanted to eradicate communist dictatorship and avoid consequences of domino theory

Question 2

Tonkin Incident and resolution

Answer 2

• march-august 1964
• USS Maddox moves into Gulf of Tonkin, and its is ‘attacked’ by North Vietnamese border patrol
• Resolution: provided Johnson with a reason to take any measures necessary for Vietnam (attack them)
• gained public support to excalated war

Question 3

Escalation in vietnam

Answer 3

• Johnson increasing US involvement after election
• felt torn as previous presidents had endorsed involvement with policy of containment but he had GS to fund
• when bombed North V first time (1964) approval rating went 42%-72%
• was adivsed to maintain an independent South V and suggested heavier bombing to maintain ‘antional prestige’
• Operation Rolling Thunder begins 1965

Question 4

NSAM 273

Answer 4

• 26th Nov 1963 (day after Ks funeral)
• national security memorandum approved by J
• directed US gov to assist people and gov of south V to win contest against communism
• proved disasterous and undermined his election commitments to peace

Question 5

NSAM 288

Answer 5

• march 1964
• called for greater use of US force
• included air strikes against north V

Question 6

Operation Rolling Thunder

Answer 6

• authorised 13th Feburary 1965
• sustained bombing camoagin against north vietnamese
• designed to destroy supplies and infrastrucutew in North V and boost morale in south
• respose to a Viet Cong attack on American Camp neae Pleiku, killig 8 and wounding 100
• 8th March 1965: 3,500 marines near Da Nang ordered to shoot only if fired at
• 3rd April: J sent 2 support units of 20,000 men on ‘search and destroy’ missions
• within year since election: 175,000 troops in V, 1/4M next year
• 1965-68: 864,000 tonnes of bombs dropped on North V
• 67% supported action

Question 7

Tet Offensive

Answer 7

• domesitc opposition grew as war dragged on
• worsened with use of draft to fill demand of troops (Selective Service Training Act of 1940)
• J admin promised progress was being made and it would soon be over
• 1968: North V launched Tet Offensive - coordinated attack on dozens of cities - destroyed concept that NV were in disarray
• attack was unexpected
• took 11,000 US and SV troops 3 weeks to clear
  dead:
• almost 4,000 Americans
• almost 5,000 SV military
• 14,300 civilians
• 58,000 communist soldieras
• american embassy in Saigon taken for 6 hours
• American opposition soared as result
• Johnson decided not to stand in 1968 election after this

Question 8

The The Sanh Base

Answer 8

• same time as Tet
• second major battle in NV since Jan 1968
• turned to bloodiest battle of the war
• Khe Sanh = US base since 1962
• 21st Jan 1968: genrral Giap surrounded base with 20,000 men and a 75 day seige began
• J couldnt lose base so dropped 80,000 tonnes of bombs
• evetually closed it down
• traid to keep quiet from US public but was revealed in NV propaganda victory

Question 9

international response to Vietnam during Johnson

Answer 9

• lack of support for johnson
• Charles de Gaulle of France gave speech urging johnson to pull troops out of Southeast Asia
• frnace also withrew from NATO in 1966
• out of 40 US allies few supported:
• South Korea had 50,000 troops deployed in 1968
• Austrailia only 7,700
• Philippines and New Zealand les that 3,000 between them