Gulf of Tonkin and Rolling Thunder

• Diem is killed in 1963, less than a month later JFK is also killed.
• Lyndon B. Johnson takes over after JFK's assassination
• Johnson agreed with the domino theory and was deeply worried about the spread of communism.
• Johnson promised in 1964 election to not send troops
• Johnson's advisors were keen for him to become more involved in Vietnam. Johnson gave his help and authorisation to the ARVN to go into North Vietnam and sabotage the North.
• Gulf of Tonkin- August 1964

  • The USA sent destroyers (warships) into the waters of North Vietnam.
  • The USS Maddox was attacked by North Vietnam on the 3rd of August 1964
  • On the 4th of August there are reports of another attack
  • A couple of hours later the captain says there was no second attack
  • Despite that Johnson had decided he would get involved with Vietnam
• • In February 1965 a US helicopter base -Camp Holloway- was attacked by the Vietcong
  • 10 helicopters were destroyed and 8 men were killed
  • On the 13th of February Operation Rolling Thunder began
  • This was the continuous bombing of the North by US air forces
  • Ideally would break the morale of the North
  • This is a major escalation
  • It was meant to last 8 weeks
  • In reality, it lasted 3 years
  • 1 million tons of bombs were dropped on Vietnam
  • By March 1965 200,000 US combat troops in Vietnam
  • Marks the start of the U.S in the Vietnam war
• • 7th August 1964- The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution is passed by the US Congress
  • This gave the president power to conduct the war however he wanted
  • This resulted in Operation Rolling Thunder in 1965