Escalation under Johnson Flashcards
What were Johnson’s goals?
setting up a government the south Vietnamese people wanted stopping communism(keeping south as a separate country) stopping the war from escalating and avoiding nuclear war
Why was Jonson put in a difficult position?
VC were strong
south vietnamese government was weaker
USA was unpopular in south
Why was the VC more of a threat in 1964 in terms of local support and VC ideals?
Local support-won support with propaganda
replaced corrupt officials
Some VC lived in villagers sharing the hardships
VC ideals-propaganda stress they were fighting USA and its puppet government & to end poverty/injustice
Why was the VC more of a threat in 1964 in terms of organisation and foreign aid?
Organisation- NFL provided a political leadership structure.
VC organised in “cadres” which were divided into 3-man cells which would act quick
Foreign Aid-China & USSR provided ammunition weapns,troops
Why was the VC more of a threat in 1964 in terms of South Vietnamese government and time?
SV gov-villagers resented to move to hamlets
government seen as a puppet
Time- it was their country didn’t matter how long it took to win
What was the Gulf Of Tonkin incident in 1964?
2 US navy ships Maddox & C.Turner Joy were ordered to make regular patrols in the Gulf Of Tonkin & along NV coast
simultaneously,small US boat were secretly ferrying ARVN troops to carry out raids on NV ships and territory
NV were angry about ARVN attacks and they struck in the Gulf Of Tonkin
What happened on the 2 August?
maddox radar showed 3 NV torpedo boat closing in
captain called for air support
NV fired and so did Maddox & withdrew when the planes came
What was Johnson told?
4 August Maddox,C.Turner Joy reported NV torpedo boat attacks and claimed to have sunk 2 enemy boats
HOWEVER there was a confusion johnson was told of the incident but later was told there may not have been an attack at all
What did Johnson do after ignoring the confusion?
ordered 2 US planes to strike NV targets in retaliation
2 US jets were shot down on this strike
What did Johnson tell congress and what did he ask for?
5 August Johnson told congress about the attack on the maddox and C.Turner Joy
and asked congress to give him power to stop any future attacks on US forces
What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution/when was it?
7 august
Congress passed the gulf of tonkin resolution
he now could declare war with out consulting congress and he could send troops to vietnam
How did the North Vietnamese react to the Gulf of Tonkin resolution?
Nov 1964-Feb 1965 more people and supplies were sent south
VC were urged to target us bases
7 feb VC attacked US airfields at Pleiku
What happened at Binh Gia?
2 DEC 1964
lasted 3 days between US and VC
VC won
military equipment and prisoners were taken
How much did did it cost for USA to help south/What did NV,USA, want?
$2 million a day
USA wanted SV to be democratic ad defend itself
NV wanted SV to revolt and unite with North vietnam
What did Johnson advisers say to him about the war?
heavy bombing will make the north give in
150,000 ground troops would win in a few weeks
go all out bombs and troops then they will negotiate
