Johnson foreign policy Flashcards
Why did Johnson continue war in Vietnam ? (4)
- 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
name of south Vietnamese government
Saigon government
why did the Kennedy legacy lead to escalation in Vietnam (3)
- 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
who were both Kennedy and Johnsons secretary of defence and state
- McNamara
- Dean Rusk
what did McNamara say about the Saigon govt after visiting in 1964 and why was this significant
that the situation under new leadership was very disturbing
- the ppl unwilling to fight and apathetic
led us to getting involved
What was the Gulf of Tonkin Incident?
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)
When was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution signed
1964
When was johnson declared soft on communism and by who
1964 by the republican opponent
What did the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution lead to
A
rolling thunder
When was Rolling Thunder and when were US troops in Vietnam
1965
what was Johnsons approval ratings after the gulf of Tonkin resolution
72% from 42%
what was the working group and what did they recommend to johnson (3)
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
4 aims of rolling thunder
- secure American position in SV
- decrease communist infiltration from NV
- demoralise NV govt (lose their hope)
- encourage SV govt
in 1965 how many of the ppl favoured sending in US troops to stop SV falling
80%
what was rolling thunder
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
how many tonnes of bombs dropped in 3 years during rolling thunder
864,000 tonnes
why was rolling thunder ineffective
despite American popularity the NV used it as effective propaganda
- cost 900 million
didn’t know where bombs would land
what was the next escalatory step after rolling thunder
sending in ground troops, also in 1965
who requested sending in ground troops for greater protection of us bomber bases
general Westmoreland obvs
how many ground troops in Vietnam by 1968
548,000
What was the fallback of Westmoreland’s policy of attrition
NV propaganda disaster
- pictures of modern weaponry on poor villages
- unpopularity of Johnson and the war - protests etc
How long was operation rolling thunder and how long was it meant to last
1965-68 (was only meant to be 8 weeks)
rolling thunder - Successs
America superior - demonstration of their power
When did peace talks begin ?
January 1969 - 2 months after the Johnson ended ORT
explain what happened at the Khe Sanh US base
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
where was the Khe San base located
- border of NV near Ho Chi Minh trail
why was Westmoreland replaced
suggested tactical nuclear warfare to deal with Khe San siege
who reported that the war was unwinnable after the Tet Offensive
Walter Cronkite
explain Tet Offensive
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
when was the Tet offensive
1968
what special relationship was damaged by the Vietnam War
Britain and Americas - PM privately criticised the war
Who is Charles de Gaulle
French PM who criticised US foreign policy and urged them in a public speech to withdraw
What showed the weakness of SEATO
the lack of allies who sent troops to Vietnam
what were the names to refer to those who wanted peace and those who wanted war (animals)
hawks vs doves
when and why did McNamara resign
1968
became disillusioned with the war ad realised it was unwinnable
