Johnson's policies in Vietnam Flashcards
When did Johnson become president?
22 November 1963 on the day of Kennedy’s death
what did Johnson want to avoid?
-The Americanisation of the VN war
OPLAN 34A
Jan 1964
-strategy based on covert action to place pressure on NV
What did approach did he carry on?
Kennedys counter-insurgency approach + increased the number of military advisers from 16300 to 23000
Gulf of Tonkin resolution
August 1964:
-Congress presented Johnson with the power to take whatever action he found necessary in Vietnam without consulting congress
-Essentially gave Johnson a ‘blank cheque’
-Johnson ordered for the bombing of NV naval bases in response to the NV attack on a US naval vessel
Escalation of the VN war
End of 1964:
-The situation of the VN war was deteriorating for the USA
-China agreed to provide military supplies to north vietnam
-USSR established diplomatic links with the NLF + sent military equipment
-NV was consolidating their position in SV
-Rise in anti-american feelings among the SV population
-ARVN was in a state of low morale due to poor leadership, inadequate training + pay
Why was the strengthening of the VC’s position in SV such a big problem for the USA?
-It meant they were failing at maintaining their policy of containment in SE Asia as communism was spreading south as well as a growing anti-American feeling in the south
Why didn’t Johnson look for diplomatic solutions?
-Johnson didn’t look for diplomatic solutions in the Vietnam war as he was convinced that North Vietnam would back down with the economic + military might of the USA
Operation Rolling Thunder
2 March 1965- 31 Oct 1968
-An American bombing campaign during the VN war in response to the VC attack in Pleiku
-Marked the expansion of US involvement in the VN war + the beginning of the Americanisation of the VN war
What did Johnson’s administration believe?
-That sustained + heavy bombing on NV would encourage the north Vietnamese leaders to accept the non-communist gov in SV
What did NV offer after Johnsons speech?
April 1965:
-Offered a four-point proposal
1) US troops must withdraw from the south in accordance to the Geneva agreements
2) Neither north or south may enter a military alliance with any foreign powers
3) SV’s internal affairs must be settled by the south vietnamese w/o any ext influence + in accordance to the NLF program
4) Peaceful reunification of VN must be settled only by the people of both zones
What did Johnson do instead of accepting this proposal? + why?
-Ordered 2 marine battalions, an air squadron + 20,000 troops to be deployed in VN
-Believed the acceptance would lead to a unified + communist vn
Ground troops deployed
1965- 184000
1968- 536000
Battle of La Drang Valley
14 Nov 1965- 18 Nov 1965
-Was the first major battle between the US + NV
-The Americans were heavily outnumbered + had to call for artillery + air support
-US deaths= 300
-NV casualties= 2000-3000
-Was viewed as the most successful ambush against US forces throughout the whole war
Why is the battle of la drang valley so significant?
-Both sides saw it as a victory: America because of the high number of casualties they inflicted + NV as they were able to maintain their position
