support in Congress

• • support for the war led to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution being passed unanimously
  • The resolution was passed because Congress had no knowledge of how much had really been spend on the war
• as time passed, Congress became less favourable of war, but kept funding it because:

  • the military kept assuring the gov. that victory was close
  • they did not want a powerful and rich country like USA to be beaten by a lesser North Vietnam
• • reactions in Congress changed negatively after the Tet Offensive and the silent majority speech
  • Congress was also influenced by public opinion
  • when anti–war demonstrations became more violent, Congress shifted to pro-war
  • after 1970, Congress still funded the war but put restrictions on how much could be spent