8126803
Description
Flashcards by Katie Staines, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by Katie Staines
over 7 years ago
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| Question | Answer |
| What was the situation Johnson faced in Vietnam? (Part 1) | From Dec 1963 Hanoi was sending increased amount of North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regulars south, strengthening the VC. Fall of Diem created instability and chaos. Gov now ruled by the Military Ruling Council (MRC) led by General Duong Van Minh but believed didn't need US help. Minh called for policy of neutralisation for Vietnam but US felt it would lead to victory for communists. Jan 1964: Minh replaced with Nguyen Khanh with support of US army. |
| What was the situation Johnson faced in Vietnam? (Part 2) | Khnah's Gov faced many problems. ARVN was in poor condition even though Khanh introduced 20% pay rise. Strategic Hamlet policy was a failure and VC able to counter US air superiority thanks to increasing supplies of weaponry from Chinese and Soviets. Estimated communists now controlled 40% of SV. Khanh keen to work closely with US and led to an increase to 22,000 advisers and increased military aid to ARVN. |
| What was the situation Johnson faced in Vietnam? (Part 3) | March 1964 NSAM 288 reviewed US policy and suggested the following: 1. The need to protect independence of SV. 2. Increase size on ARVN. 3. General Westmoreland to replace Harkins as leader of US Military Assistance Command Vietnam. 4. Number of advisors to be increased to 23,300 and further economic aid of $50m. Johnson could not look weak against communism with upcoming 1964 election. |
| Gulf of Tonkin Resolution August 1964 | CIA had been secretly sending SV teams on sabotage missions in the North. During 1964 election, Goldwater accused Johnson of being soft on communism so he claimed that 2 Vietnamese ships launched an unprovoked attack on US ship in the Gulf of Tonkin. On 4th August he asked for Congressional support in avenging these attacks. Believing that lives of US sailors were at risk, Congress passed the resolution which gave Johnson power to wage war in Vietnam. |
| 1964 Presidential Election | Passing of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution made Johnson appear tougher on communism and approval ratings went from 42% to 72%. Played a balancing act by assuring the right he was tough on communism and assuring left he wouldn't act in haste and drag them into war. |
| Working Group Recommendations | Group drawn up from Defence, State, CIA and JCS Said an independent, anti-communist Vietnam was vital Said escalation was necessary due to weakness of Saigon government Suggested heavy bombing of the North would only stop if North negotiated |
| Start of the military campaign 1965 #1 | Maintained a moderate stance Not planning on escalating involvement North becoming aggressive-result of increased Soviet and Chinese aid due to them competing for leadership of communist world Christmas 1964: the VC planted a bomb in a bar in Saigon used by US troops Feb 1965: VC killed 8 US troops in attack on bast in Pleiku McGeorge Bundy told Johnson a sustained bombing campaign only way to forge North into negotiations |
| Start of military campaign 1965 #2 | Operation 'Rolling Thunder' began in March 1965- hedged with restrictions and designed to slowly increase in intensity Led very quickly to deployment of US ground forces US Commander General Westmoreland requested US marines to protect bomber base at Danang March 1965: first 3500 marines arrived at Danang Congress granted $700m for military operations |
| Assessing role of Johnson in Vietnam | His decision to escalate involvement in Vietnam by committing US combat forces Hard for him to disengage He had support from Congress and the American people- Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and the 1964 Presidential Election |
| Reasons for escalation | 1. Needed to fight if wanted to live securely in free world 2. NV aggressively attacked SV, needed to be opposed 3. NV puppet of expansionist communist powers so they can conquer Asia 4. Abandoning it would be dishonourable 5. Appeasement could lead to a third world war |
| Tet Offensive 1968 #1 | Communists launched an unprecedented attack on the night of 30-31st Jan-Vietnamese New Year Both sides allowed 48hr truce for celebrations-NVA hoped to surprise them VC were successful: Attack on US embassy caused Ambassador to flee Two battalions of NVA infantry broke in and captured Hue- recapturing it was a formidable task |
| Tet Offensive 1968 #2 | Propaganda victory for the communists as the world watched on More periods of communist aggression in May-known as mini-Tet May attacks caused worst week and month for US casualties 1968 was worst year for the US with nearly half of all casualties (14,650) |
| The Khe Sanh Base #1 | Been a US base since 1962 and lay close to NV border-meant US troops could patrol Ho Chi Minh trail Jan 1968: General Giap surrounded the base with 20,000 men and a 75 day siege began Inconceivable for Johnson to lose base- authorised a heavy bombing campaign in defence Westmoreland suggested that nuclear weapons could be used |
| The Khe Sanh Base #2 | Westmoreland replaced by General Creighton Adams Johnson closed the base down despite the fact that the Americans had broken the siege Kept from the US public however the North exploited the 'capture' of Khe Sanh as a propaganda victory |
| Impact of 1968 events #1 | Tet Offensive cost communists dearly-huge propaganda success but 50-60,000 deaths Now reliant on NVA troops from across the border Victory in military terms but devastating for America: Role of the media-first 'televised' war where Americans back home could watch events unfold Opposition beginning to grow-demonstrations started in Unis 1965, 1967 MLK made speech against war |
| Impact of 1968 events #2 | 1966 mid-term elections-Democrats did badly losing seats in the Senate and the House The 'wise men' (senior advisors such as Acheson and Rusk)- given their support in 1967 but met again in 1968 and advocated some kind of retreat March: obscure Democrat Eugene McCarthy won 42% in New Hampshire Primary whereas Johnson won 49% which was huge blow Robert Kennedy then announced candidacy-possibility he would lose Shocked the country by announcing he would not stand in forthcoming elections |
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