Gulf of Tonkin Resolution & Escalation

what was the Gulf of Tonkin incident

NV forces attacked a US naval vessel in the Gulf of Tonkin

when was the Gulf of Tonkin incident

August 1964

what happened on the 7th August

congressed passed the Gulf of Tonkin resolution

when was the Gulf of Tonkin resolution?

7th August 1964

what did the Gulf of Tonkin resolution allow Johnson to do?

allowed Johnson the power to take whatever action he felt necessary to resist an armed attack on US forces in Vietnam & to prevent further aggression

the Resolution gave Johnson the freedom to…

conduct whatever policy he wanted in Vietnam without consulting congress

what was the Gulf of Tonkin resolution referred to as? Why?

grandma’s nightshirt because it covered everything

what had happened by 1964

the situation in Vietnam was deteriorating for the USA

why was the situation in Vietnam was deteriorating for the USA?

Increased involvement from foreign allies of NV

what was the affect of Johnson’s election on the escalation of the war

His initial post-election thinking was based on armed reconnaissance strikes & graduated military response against NV

By 1954 Johnson had no inclination to…

seek a diplomatic settlement as he believed that the economic and military might of the USA would force NV to back down

what was introduced in Feb 1965

Operation Rolling Thunder

when was Operation Rolling Thunder introduced

Feb 1965

why was Operation Rolling Thunder introduced

a Vietcong attack on army barracks and a US helicopter base in Pleiku, followed by further attacks

what was Operation Rolling Thunder

 a bombing campaign that progressed 1965-1968

what did Operation Rolling Thunder mark?

the start of Americanisation of the war & its escalation in terms of US involvement

when did the first US combat troops arrive in Vietnam & where?

near Danang in March 1965

what did Johnson reject

the Vietcong’s four-point proposal

when did Johnson reject the Vietcong’s four point proposal

April 1965

why did Johnson reject the Vietcong’s four point prosal

fearing that acceptance may lead to a unified and communist Vietnamese state

what did Johnson do instead of accepting the Vietcong’s four point proposal

he escalated the USA’s military role in July 1965

what was the effect of Johnson’s escalation on NV

a clear indication that the USA was not just preparing for the defence of SV & NV leaders continued their revolution in the south.