Johnson inherits the Vietnam problem Was Kennedy’s, and now it’s fallen into his lap

How he gets the problem He didn’t want to get involved with Vietnam in the beginning Then continued that throughout his election Finally, he began making plans to escalate in March, 1964 after he was elected

LBJ hears of stuff going on in Vietnam North Vietnam was sending supplies to it’s troops in the south on the Ho Chi Minh Trail Johnson then approved covert attacks on North Vietnam’s coast Used close surveillance to locate radar sites So North Vietnam decided to retaliate and fired at a US ship… but didn’t hit it

The Incident itself On August 4th, US sailors thought their destroyer was under attack and fired back Back in Washington, LBJ used the incident to ask congress to approve air strikes and give him the power to deal with future threats Thus, the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was passed

Crisis point in Vietnam Started increasing by Operation Rolling Thunder Did this to try to help a struggling and corrupt government… it didn’t Crazy air raids against the trail…. But they didn’t stop

Those for war… Hawks Wider need to contain communism Argued against the policy of appeasement Showed that allies must be able to rely on the US

The Doves, against the war Escalating war would not guarantee victory Was not in the nation’s interest, aka was it worth the money? Believed that the US involvement in Vietnam might draw China or the USSR into the conflict… both of which were supplying the north with aid

Johnson Americanizes the War Started with 3,500 Marines in Da Nang, South Vietnam At first they were to defend the airbases, then were sent out on search-and-destroy missions For a couple of months, LBJ kept this secret from the US

Johnson then increases troop levels End of April, 60,000… then boosted to 125,000 troops, but never declared war on Vietnam… instead using the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution By end of 1965, 184,000 1966: 385,000 1967: 500,000

Americanizing the war US would take key cities, then spread out into the country sides Different type of fighting… didn’t know friend from foe Took over the war and put South Vietnam in a supporting role