The Gulf of Tonkin and the Vietnam War
*A fabricated incident was set up; an American destroyer (USS Maddox) was torpedoed
*Led President Johnson to install the Tonkin Gulf Resolution
*Did not go through congress
*New rule set up after this
*Single handedly to started the Vietnam War
*Lead to the commitment of regular ground troops and air support
*200,000 troops in 1965 - 600,000 in 1968
*Led President Johnson to install the Tonkin Gulf Resolution
*Did not go through congress
*New rule set up after this
*Single handedly to started the Vietnam War
*Lead to the commitment of regular ground troops and air support
*200,000 troops in 1965 - 600,000 in 1968
Turning point - The Tet Offensive, 1968
*Offensive launched by the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) in 1968
*Surprises Americans
*Is played up as a major victory for the North although very little is achieved
*Public relations victory
*Anti-War demonstrations increase as a result
*Surprises Americans
*Is played up as a major victory for the North although very little is achieved
*Public relations victory
*Anti-War demonstrations increase as a result
Summary
The Vietnam war was started based on a fabricated problem. The Americans thought that the Vietnamese people were in need of their help so they started this war based on that fact alone, along with their still constant fear of Communism.