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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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, : 385, : 500,000

10. 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