The USA Conflict Home and Abroad: 3.2

Question 1

What were Johnson’s goals in Vietnam ?

Answer 1

• same as Kennedy’s
• stop communism in Vietnam via keeping Vietnam divided into two states
• set up a likeable South Vietnamese government
• stop the war escalating
• avoid nuclear war

Question 2

Describe why the Vietcong were more of a threat to a capitalist government in South Vietnam in 1964

Answer 2

• foreign aid from China and the USSR as well as the Northern Vietnamese had increased
• dislike of the South Vietnamese government was still strong in the villages, especially after the Strategic Hamlet Programme
• the VC had time on their side, as they lived in Vietnam whilst the US advisors did not
• the South Vietnamese was divided by infighting instead of focusing on taking out the VC
• VC were organised into three man “cadres” that could move quickly and do a lot of damage
• the NLF provided a political structure to the VC and made them more organised and thus more dangerous
• had a lot of local support, seeing as the VC were largely ordinary people and also made tangible social reforms in villages that made them popular
• the VC stressed that they were fighting the USA’s puppet government, as well as the corruption in the South Vietnamese government

Question 3

Describe the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in 1964

Answer 3

• US Navy ships (the Maddox and the C Turner Joy) instructed to patrol the Gulf of Tonkin
• 2 August, Maddox radar showed 3 NV torpedo boats and the captain called for air support
  [] the NV boats fired, the Maddox fired back and withdrew when US air support arrived
• 4 August, during bad storm, both ships reported NV attacks and claimed to have sunk two NV boats
  [] confusion as to whether this actually happened or not
  [] Johnson ignored the confusion and sent in US planes to strike NV targets anyway
  [] two US jets shot down during these attacks
• 5 August, Johnson reported the situation to Congress and asked for permission to stop future attacks on US forces
  [] only one person in the entirety of Congress objected
• 7 August, Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed
  [] allowed Johnson to take “any necessary steps” to stop attacks on US personnel without consulting Congress or officially declaring war, INCLUDING SENDING IN US TROOPS
  [] was passed extremely quickly, demonstrating US support of the war

Question 4

Describe the North Vietnamese reaction to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, 7 August 1964

Answer 4

• saw the Resolution as a declaration of war, even though it technically was not
• increased involvement in South Vietnam in response
  [] 1964-65, more people and supplies sent south via the Ho Chi Minh Trail
  [] VC instructed to target US bases
• 2 December 1964, battle at Binh Ga, close to Saigon
  [] lasted until 3 January 1965
  [] the VC won
  [] 50+ US helicopters destroyed or damaged, equipment and prisoners taken
• 7 February, VC attacked US airfield at Pleiku
  [] 9 dead, 128 wounded, 122 aircraft damaged or destroyed
  [] the VC’s strength and damage using limited personnel and supplies demonstrates their organisation and commitment to the cause; something that US and ARVN troops did not have

Question 5

Describe US attitudes towards how long the war would last and why

Answer 5

• Johnson’s people were wildly optimistic, and said the war was basically won etc. - lies about the US’ success were told to the public, such as the earlier loss at Ap Bac being reported as a victory, whilst some US press told the story how it actually went
• many US politicians and people found it hard to believe that a powerful country like the US could lose so concretely to a small country like Vietnam with a significantly weaker economy and population size