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Johnson > Johnson foreign policy > Flashcards

Johnson foreign policy Flashcards

1
Q

Why did Johnson continue war in Vietnam ? (4)

A
  • cold war convictions (containment & domino theory)
  • JFK legacy (felt obligated to continue, couldn’t admit past errors of involvement)
  • failing of Saigon govt (unpopular)
  • national prestige & honour at stake
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2
Q

name of south Vietnamese government

A

Saigon government

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3
Q

why did the Kennedy legacy lead to escalation in Vietnam (3)

A
  • colluded in assassination of diem (morally locked)
  • emotionally obliged to continue his policies
  • retained Kennedys secretary of defence McNamara and sec of state dean rusk so no new ideas on Vietnam
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4
Q

who were both Kennedy and Johnsons secretary of defence and state

A
  • McNamara
  • Dean Rusk
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5
Q

what did McNamara say about the Saigon govt after visiting in 1964 and why was this significant

A

that the situation under new leadership was very disturbing
- the ppl unwilling to fight and apathetic
led us to getting involved

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6
Q

What was the Gulf of Tonkin Incident?

A

an espionage US ship in 1964 in NV waters was attacked and and Johnson used this to Gain Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which let US “take all necessary steps”

(total bipartisan support AND approval ratings went up)

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7
Q

When was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution signed

A

1964

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8
Q

When was johnson declared soft on communism and by who

A

1964 by the republican opponent

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9
Q

What did the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution lead to

A

A
rolling thunder

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10
Q

When was Rolling Thunder and when were US troops in Vietnam

A

1965

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11
Q

what was Johnsons approval ratings after the gulf of Tonkin resolution

A

72% from 42%

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12
Q

what was the working group and what did they recommend to johnson (3)

A

set up by johnson in 1964 - ordered state dept, defence dept, CIA to study Vietnam and found:
- reiterated domino theory and that anti communist South Vietnam was integral to US
- American honour at stake
- weak Saigon govt
- heavy bombing to be halted if NV would accept SV as anti communist and independent

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13
Q

4 aims of rolling thunder

A
  • secure American position in SV
  • decrease communist infiltration from NV
  • demoralise NV govt (lose their hope)
  • encourage SV govt
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14
Q

in 1965 how many of the ppl favoured sending in US troops to stop SV falling

A

80%

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15
Q

what was rolling thunder

A

first step in escalation
- large scale and continuous bombing in 1965 in response to concerns about US bomber bases
- after Viet Cong attacked American base in feb and killed 8, johnson urged retaliation
- 864,000 tonnes of bombs

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16
Q

how many tonnes of bombs dropped in 3 years during rolling thunder

A

864,000 tonnes

17
Q

why was rolling thunder ineffective

A

despite American popularity the NV used it as effective propaganda
- cost 900 million
didn’t know where bombs would land

18
Q

what was the next escalatory step after rolling thunder

A

sending in ground troops, also in 1965

19
Q

who requested sending in ground troops for greater protection of us bomber bases

A

general Westmoreland obvs

20
Q

how many ground troops in Vietnam by 1968

A

548,000

21
Q

What was the fallback of Westmoreland’s policy of attrition

A

NV propaganda disaster
- pictures of modern weaponry on poor villages
- unpopularity of Johnson and the war - protests etc

22
Q

How long was operation rolling thunder and how long was it meant to last

A

1965-68 (was only meant to be 8 weeks)

23
Q

rolling thunder - Successs

A

America superior - demonstration of their power

24
Q

When did peace talks begin ?

A

January 1969 - 2 months after the Johnson ended ORT

25
Q

explain what happened at the Khe Sanh US base

A

US base attacked during tet offensive that was under siege for 75 days
- us had to drop 80k bombs
- had to close base down after the siege broke and it was humiliating

26
Q

where was the Khe San base located

A
  • border of NV near Ho Chi Minh trail
27
Q

why was Westmoreland replaced

A

suggested tactical nuclear warfare to deal with Khe San siege

28
Q

who reported that the war was unwinnable after the Tet Offensive

A

Walter Cronkite

29
Q

explain Tet Offensive

A

1968 during Tet festival a time of holiday truce
took control of US embassy for 6 hours
4,000 Americans dead
half the houses in hue destroyed
swayed public opinion

30
Q

when was the Tet offensive

A

1968

31
Q

what special relationship was damaged by the Vietnam War

A

Britain and Americas - PM privately criticised the war

32
Q

Who is Charles de Gaulle

A

French PM who criticised US foreign policy and urged them in a public speech to withdraw

33
Q

What showed the weakness of SEATO

A

the lack of allies who sent troops to Vietnam

34
Q

what were the names to refer to those who wanted peace and those who wanted war (animals)

A

hawks vs doves

35
Q

when and why did McNamara resign

A

1968
became disillusioned with the war ad realised it was unwinnable

Johnson (5 decks)

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