1. AIM: Why is the Gulf of Tonkin Significant?

2. Communism Spreads to French Indochina
Ho Chi Minh & NVA
Vietcong
[1954] Def French at Dien Bien Phu
Domino Theory: countries can fall to com. like row of dominoes
Geneva Accords – Split 17th
N – Com
S – Dem
Diem’s Strategic Hamlet program: Aims to rid South of VC – many resented
S. Vietnamese Pres. Diem assassinated (approved by USA)

3. [August 1964] Gulf of Tonkin Incident
Alleged “attack” in Gulf of Tonkin; LBJ asks for power to repel enemy
Result:
[1964]Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Gives LBJ broad military powers

4. United States escalates war
Operation Rolling Thunder
Carpet-bombing – B-52s
General William Westmoreland – AVRN
Guerilla Tactics – elusive enemy
Ambushes
Hide & seek
VC Tunnel System
Ho Chi Minh Trail – VC supplies to fight USA
Napalm
Search & Destroy
Agent Orange

7. Living room war
Combat footage on nightly TV news shows stark picture of war
credibility gap: Critics claim between reports and events
Walter Cronkite
Personal opinions – first
Impacts public