US Involvement in Vietnam Escalates

US Involvement in Vietnam US Involvement in Vietnam EscalatesEscalates

11K. Mc TaggartK. Mc Taggart

Johnson’s Attitude to VietnamJohnson’s Attitude to Vietnam

LBJ LBJ not as experiencednot as experienced in international in international affairs as JFKaffairs as JFKAlso, he had suddenly been thrust into the Also, he had suddenly been thrust into the job due to JFK’s assassination, inheriting job due to JFK’s assassination, inheriting the warthe warHe believed that he must continue He believed that he must continue Kennedy’s policies Kennedy’s policies He accepted the He accepted the domino theorydomino theoryHe retained most of Kennedy’s advisorsHe retained most of Kennedy’s advisors


Robert McNamaraRobert McNamara

Sec. of DefenceSec. of Defence

Dean RuskDean Rusk

Sec. of StateSec. of State


He turned to both for adviceHe turned to both for advice

1.Both 1.Both ANTI-COMMUNISTANTI-COMMUNIST

2.Felt that SV needed to be protected from 2.Felt that SV needed to be protected from Communist a takeoverCommunist a takeover

3.They worried about the damage to US 3.They worried about the damage to US prestige (image) if they withdrew from SV prestige (image) if they withdrew from SV or if they were defeatedor if they were defeated


4.They feared that defeat would trigger a 4.They feared that defeat would trigger a collapse of non-communist govcollapse of non-communist gov. in the . in the regionregion

5.Also that it would 5.Also that it would lead to communist lead to communist attacksattacks on other US interests in Asia on other US interests in Asia (Japan, Taiwan)(Japan, Taiwan)

Therefore, SV was not to be abandoned.Therefore, SV was not to be abandoned.


LBJ’s ViewsLBJ’s Views

LBJ agreed with their viewsLBJ agreed with their views

He feared his weakness would be He feared his weakness would be exposed in upcoming electionsexposed in upcoming elections

He must be seen to act ‘tough’He must be seen to act ‘tough’

‘‘I am not going to be the president who saw I am not going to be the president who saw South-East Asia go to the way of China’South-East Asia go to the way of China’


He did not want war in Vietnam however, He did not want war in Vietnam however, ‘that raggedy- ass little fourth-rate country’‘that raggedy- ass little fourth-rate country’

More interested in More interested in domestic reformsdomestic reforms

He hoped to turn the US into a He hoped to turn the US into a GREAT GREAT SOCIETYSOCIETY

He declared a He declared a war on povertywar on poverty and wished and wished to to improve healthimprove health and and educationeducation for the for the poor……and poor……and PREVENT WARPREVENT WAR


‘‘I knew from the start that if I left a woman I knew from the start that if I left a woman I really loved- I really loved- the Great Society-the Great Society- in order in order to fight this bitch of a war’…..’then I would to fight this bitch of a war’…..’then I would lose everything at home, my hopes, my lose everything at home, my hopes, my dreams…’dreams…’

L.B.J.L.B.J.


Initially decided to fight a Initially decided to fight a limited warlimited war

Force NV to accept negotiated peaceForce NV to accept negotiated peace

Ignored his more aggressive advisorsIgnored his more aggressive advisors

Rejected any moves that might bring US Rejected any moves that might bring US or China into the waror China into the war


Despite his Despite his ‘misgivings‘misgivings’, step by step, LBJ ’, step by step, LBJ found himself being dragged into a …..found himself being dragged into a …..


The Gulf of Tonkin IncidentThe Gulf of Tonkin Incident

The event that triggered this involvement The event that triggered this involvement was the GULF OF TONKIN incidentwas the GULF OF TONKIN incident

August 1964, August 1964, USS MADDOXUSS MADDOX (an (an American destroyer) exchanged fire with American destroyer) exchanged fire with NVNV

Gave Johnson and his cabinet the perfect Gave Johnson and his cabinet the perfect reason to increase US involvement in reason to increase US involvement in VietnamVietnam


The Gulf of TonkinThe Gulf of Tonkin


USS MaddoxUSS Maddox


Johnson asked Congress to pass the Johnson asked Congress to pass the TONKIN RESOLUTIONTONKIN RESOLUTION

This allowed him to take This allowed him to take ‘all necessary ‘all necessary steps, including the use of military force’ to steps, including the use of military force’ to protect American securityprotect American security

In addition, it would allow Johnson to In addition, it would allow Johnson to decide when ‘peace and security’ in the decide when ‘peace and security’ in the area had been achieved.area had been achieved.


At the time. Johnson’s actions were At the time. Johnson’s actions were very very popularpopularPoll in 1965 showed that Poll in 1965 showed that 85%85% of the of the American’s supported his handling of the American’s supported his handling of the situation.situation.At first Johnson sent more advisors to the At first Johnson sent more advisors to the countrycountryPut pressure on S Vietnamese to make Put pressure on S Vietnamese to make their regime more populartheir regime more popular


In the 1964 Presidential electionIn the 1964 Presidential election, Johnson , Johnson portrayed himself as portrayed himself as moderatemoderateLBJ labelled his opponent, LBJ labelled his opponent, Barry Barry GoldwaterGoldwater, an extremist, an extremistJohnson then stated he was not willing,Johnson then stated he was not willing,

‘‘to send American boys nine or ten thousand to send American boys nine or ten thousand miles away from home to do what Asian miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves’boys ought to be doing for themselves’


JohnsonJohnson VV GoldwaterGoldwater


Johnson’s Election VictoryJohnson’s Election Victory


Johnson won the election with a Johnson won the election with a landslidelandslide

His victory was the largest ever His victory was the largest ever achieved by a US Presidentachieved by a US President

What the Americans did not know was What the Americans did not know was that Johnson was waiting until the that Johnson was waiting until the election was over to implement (start) election was over to implement (start) the very policies his Republican the very policies his Republican opponent had advocated!! (waiting to opponent had advocated!! (waiting to take firm action against the NVtake firm action against the NV))


After the election Johnson and his military After the election Johnson and his military advisors decided to escalate (increase) advisors decided to escalate (increase) their efforts against N.Vietnamtheir efforts against N.Vietnam

How?How?

More troops were committed (sent to ) More troops were committed (sent to ) VietnamVietnam

The US military was secretly planning a The US military was secretly planning a massive bombingmassive bombing campaign against NV to campaign against NV to end Communist attacksend Communist attacks


THE US MASSIVELY THE US MASSIVELY INCREASED TROOP INCREASED TROOP

NUMBERSNUMBERSReasons for this increased American Reasons for this increased American

presence in Vietnam:presence in Vietnam:

1.1. 1) They hoped to Stabilise the South1) They hoped to Stabilise the South

2.2. 2) To force NV to stop supporting the 2) To force NV to stop supporting the Vietcong in SV and to negotiate a cease Vietcong in SV and to negotiate a cease firefire

3.3. 3) This was less likely to cost US lives and 3) This was less likely to cost US lives and money (or so they hoped!!!!!!) money (or so they hoped!!!!!!)


LBJ Had to be careful:LBJ Had to be careful:

1.1. 1) Not to provoke Chinese intervention (Not to 1) Not to provoke Chinese intervention (Not to force the Chinese to come in and support NVforce the Chinese to come in and support NV

2.2. 2) Not to damage relations with USSR (not to 2) Not to damage relations with USSR (not to encourage the USSR to get involved either)encourage the USSR to get involved either)

3.3. As a result the Americans and LBJ decided that As a result the Americans and LBJ decided that bombing was banned within 40 km of Chinese bombing was banned within 40 km of Chinese border. (So they would not get involved)border. (So they would not get involved)


Operation Rolling Thunder was an Operation Rolling Thunder was an aggressive bombing aggressive bombing campaigncampaign (only involved the Airforce) (only involved the Airforce)

It was carried out against NVIt was carried out against NV

The Americans hoped to close down The Americans hoped to close down Ho Chi Minh Trail Ho Chi Minh Trail (the leader of the Vietcong in NV was Ho Chi Minh and (the leader of the Vietcong in NV was Ho Chi Minh and he was supplying the Vietcong in SV. This supply route he was supplying the Vietcong in SV. This supply route was called the Ho Chi Minh trailwas called the Ho Chi Minh trail

Operation Rolling Thunder was originally intended only to Operation Rolling Thunder was originally intended only to last 8 weeks ……last 8 weeks ……

It lasted It lasted 3 YEARS3 YEARS

The Americans were carrying out 12,000 bombing attacks a The Americans were carrying out 12,000 bombing attacks a month by Sept. 1966 (more than WWII)month by Sept. 1966 (more than WWII)


Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail


Operation Rolling ThunderOperation Rolling Thunder


Operation Rolling Thunder FAILEDOperation Rolling Thunder FAILED to weaken to weaken NV’s support for the Vietcong Communist NV’s support for the Vietcong Communist guerrillas in the Southguerrillas in the South

Seemed, in fact to have the Seemed, in fact to have the opposite effect as opposite effect as the Vietcong won a lot of support from the the Vietcong won a lot of support from the peasant population of SVpeasant population of SV

The bombing also acted as a The bombing also acted as a propagandapropaganda weaponweapon to use against the US to use against the US

This was not helped by the fact that over This was not helped by the fact that over 50,00050,000 civilians in SV were killed. civilians in SV were killed.


North Vietnamese ResistanceNorth Vietnamese Resistance

The Vietcong hid in the jungle and used The Vietcong hid in the jungle and used guerrilla tacticsguerrilla tactics

Arms production was removed from the Arms production was removed from the capital (Hanoi), instead for protection it capital (Hanoi), instead for protection it spread around the countryspread around the country

Some industries went under groundSome industries went under ground

Civilians were sent to live in countrysideCivilians were sent to live in countryside

30,000 miles of tunnels were built in order to 30,000 miles of tunnels were built in order to avoid detection form the Americans.avoid detection form the Americans.


When the US bombed Ho Chi Minh Trail, When the US bombed Ho Chi Minh Trail, the Vietcong built anotherthe Vietcong built another

90,000 women, children etc. worked to 90,000 women, children etc. worked to keep the line open (shows how much keep the line open (shows how much support the Vietcong had)support the Vietcong had)

Roads repaired quickly after bombing so Roads repaired quickly after bombing so North could supply VietcongNorth could supply Vietcong


Soon became clear that bombing alone could Soon became clear that bombing alone could not defeat NVnot defeat NV

Johnson now convinced for the need to send Johnson now convinced for the need to send in US soldiersin US soldiers

March 1965, request for US soldiers to protect March 1965, request for US soldiers to protect airbase and so US troops landed in Da Nangairbase and so US troops landed in Da Nang

By the end of the year there were over By the end of the year there were over 180,000 Us troops in Vietnam and by 1966 180,000 Us troops in Vietnam and by 1966 there was over 350,000 and 500,000by 1967.there was over 350,000 and 500,000by 1967.


By 1968 the was costing the US $30 billionBy 1968 the was costing the US $30 billion

Many US soldiers were Many US soldiers were drafteddrafted or or conscriptedconscripted for one year of duty in Vietnam for one year of duty in Vietnam

This was seen by many as unfair in the US This was seen by many as unfair in the US and many people objected to conscription.and many people objected to conscription.

The wealthy escaped by attending university, The wealthy escaped by attending university, leaving or enlisting in the National Guardleaving or enlisting in the National Guard


Victims of VietnamVictims of Vietnam

K. Mc TaggartK. Mc Taggart 3333

Vietnam WarVietnam War Protestors Protestors

US Involvement in Vietnam Escalates

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