Gulf of Tonkin

• • The USA had been using its ships to allow ARVN troops to attack the North along the Gulf of Tonkin, which angered the North
  • In August 1964 torpedo boats from the North fired on the USS Maddox, which fired back
  • Two days later another attack was reported so Johnson ordered a US air strike on North Vietnamese targets
  • Two US planes were shot down
• Resolution:

  • In August Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which said that Johnson would have the power to stop further attacks without asking for Congress’ permission or declaring war
  • Johnson never actually declared war on the North as this might lead to a war with China or the USSR as well, but it allowed him to send troops to Vietnam
• • From November 1964, the USA sent increasing numbers of troops and supplies into South Vietnam
• • The US needed to find a leader for South Vietnam, as they knew the South could only win against the North with public support, and this had to be earned by a Vietnamese government
  • The ARVN couldn’t do this, so US troops were sent in to keep the anti-communist government in power