5.3.4

The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 1964

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The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 1964

On 2nd August 1964 three torpedo boats from the North fired on the USS Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin.

US attacks

US attacks

  • The USA had been using its ships to allow ARVN troops to attack the North along the Gulf of Tonkin, which angered the North.
  • On 2nd August 1964 three torpedo boats from the North fired on the USS Maddox, which fired back.
Air strikes

Air strikes

  • Two days later, another attack was reported — though it may have been a mistake.
  • In response, President Johnson ordered a US air strike on North Vietnam.
  • Two US planes were shot down.
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

  • On 7th August, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
  • It gave President Johnson the power to stop further attacks without needing Congress’ approval or declaring war.
  • Johnson never officially declared war on North Vietnam,
    • As he feared it might trigger a war with China or the USSR.
  • But he still sent troops, which had the same effect as going to war.
VC victories

VC victories

  • From November 1964, the North sent increasing numbers of troops and supplies into South Vietnam.
  • The VC won battles at Binh Gia and successfully attacked the US airfield at Pleiku.
US troops

US troops

  • The US wanted a popular Vietnamese leader to win public support in the South.
  • They believed only a local government, not the US, could truly earn this support.
  • But since the ARVN couldn’t manage this, the US sent in troops.
  • Their aim was to keep the anti-communist government in power.
Jump to other topics
1

Was the Treaty of Versailles Fair?

1.1

What were the Motives and Aims at Versailles?

1.1.1The Treaty of Versailles1.1.2Roles of Wilson, Clemenceau & George
1.2

Did the Victors Get Everything They Wanted?

1.2.1The Terms: Territory1.2.2The Terms: Reparations1.2.3The Terms: Armaments1.2.4The Terms: War Guilt1.2.5The League of Nations1.2.6French Reaction1.2.7American Reaction1.2.8British Reaction1.2.9Countries Left Out of the Treaty of Versailles
1.3

What was the Impact on Germany up to 1923?

1.3.1German Reaction to the Treaty1.3.2Germany’s Allies1.3.3Economic Impacts: Ruhr & Hyperinflation1.3.4Social Impacts of the Treaty in Germany1.3.5Political Impacts of the Treaty on Germany1.3.6Reducing Reparation: The Dawes Plan
1.4

Could the Treaty be Justified at the Time?

1.4.1Positives & Negatives1.4.2Contemporary Opinions About the Treaty
2

Was the League of Nations a Success?

2.1

How did Weaknesses in the League Lead to Failure?

2.1.1The League of Nations2.1.2Structure of the League: Assembly & Council2.1.3Structure of the League: Special Commissions2.1.4Structure of the League: Permanent Court2.1.5Structure of the League: Secretariat2.1.6Financial Crisis in the World
2.2

The League’s Success in Peacekeeping

2.2.1Successes: International Borders2.2.2Successes: International Agreements2.2.3Failures: Vilna (1920)2.2.4Åland Islands 1920-212.2.5Failures: Corfu 19232.2.6Failures: Bulgaria 1925
2.3

How Important was the League's Humanitarian Work?

2.3.1Refugees, Health, Slavery, Working Conditions 12.3.2Refugees, Health, Slavery, Working Conditions 2
2.4

How did the Depression Impact the League?

2.4.1The Great Depression, 19292.4.2The Manchurian Crisis, 19312.4.3Invasion of Abyssinia, 1935
3

How did Hitler's Foreign Policy Impact the War?

3.1

What were the Long-Term Consequences of Versailles

3.1.1Long-Term Consequences of Versailles
3.2

What were the Consequences of the League's Failure

3.2.1The Disarmament Conference3.2.2Collapse of the League of Nations3.2.3Tension in Europe in the 1930s3.2.4WWII & Failure of the League of Nations3.2.5Weak Nations
3.3

Was the Policy of Appeasement Justified?

3.3.1The Spanish Civil War, 1936-393.3.2The Sudetenland3.3.3Arguments for Appeasement3.3.4Arguments Against Appeasement3.3.5Reasons & Acts of Appeasement3.3.6Impact of Appeasement
3.4

How Important was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

3.4.1The Nazi-Soviet Pact3.4.2The Polish Crisis & the Outbreak of War
3.5

Why did Britain & France Declare War on Germany?

3.5.1The Guarantee for Poland and the War3.5.2Hitler’s Foreign Policy & Rearmament3.5.3Hitler's Plan3.5.4The Saar3.5.5Remilitarisation of the Rhineland3.5.6The Rome-Berlin Axis3.5.7Germany & Italy in the Spanish War3.5.8The Anti-Comintern Pact3.5.9Anschluss with Austria3.5.10The Munich Agreement3.5.11The Crisis over Czechoslovakia
4

Who was to Blame for the Cold War?

4.1

Why did the US-Soviet Alliance Break Down?

4.1.1Cold War - Definition4.1.2The Grand Alliance4.1.3The 1945 Summit Conferences4.1.4Early US-Soviet Relations4.1.5The Breakdown of the US-Soviet Alliance4.1.6Attitudes of Truman & Stalin4.1.7US & Soviet Attitudes to Peace
4.2

How did the USSR Gain Control of Eastern Europe?

4.2.1The USSR & Eastern Europe
4.3

How did the US React to Soviet Expansionism?

4.3.1The Beginning of the Cold War4.3.2The Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan4.3.3East-West Boundaries4.3.4Berlin Crisis
4.4

What were the Consequences of the Berlin Blockade?

4.4.1Germany4.4.2Bizonia4.4.3Berlin Blockade4.4.4FRG & GDR4.4.5NATO4.4.6Warsaw Pact
4.5

Who was More to Blame for Starting the Cold War?

4.5.1The Responsibility for Cold War Tensions4.5.2Blame on the USRR4.5.3Blame on the US4.5.4Sharing the Blame
5

Did the US Contain the Spread of Communism?

5.1

The US and Korea, 1950-53

5.1.1The US and Korea: Background to the Crisis5.1.2The Korean War5.1.3The Course of the Korean War
5.2

The US and Cuba, 1959-62

5.2.1Build-Up to the Cuban Missile Crisis5.2.2The Cuban Missile Crisis5.2.3Consequence of the Cuban Missile Crisis
5.3

The US and Vietnam, 1955-75

5.3.1French Rule in Vietnam5.3.2President Eisenhower5.3.3President Kennedy5.3.4The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 19645.3.5US Tactics5.3.6Vietcong Tactics5.3.7The Vietcong5.3.8The My Lai Massacre, 19685.3.9Vietnamisation5.3.10The Tet Offensive, 19685.3.11Attacks on Cambodia & Laos5.3.12The Bombing of North Vietnam5.3.13The Failure of Vietnamisation5.3.14The Growth of Opposition5.3.15The Draft System5.3.16The Kent State University Shootings, 19705.3.17Political Opposition5.3.18Reasons for Support 15.3.19Reasons for Support 25.3.20Political Support5.3.21Peace Negotiations5.3.22The Paris Peace Accords, 19735.3.23Economic & Human Costs 15.3.24Economic & Human Costs 25.3.25The Strengths of North Vietnam 15.3.26The Strengths of North Vietnam 25.3.27The Weaknesses of the US 15.3.28The Weaknesses of the US 25.3.29Opposition in the US5.3.30Reasons Why USA Lost
6

How was USSR's Control Over Eastern Europe?

6.1

Opposition to Control in Hungary & Czechoslovakia

6.1.1Causes of Opposition6.1.2The Hungarian Uprising6.1.3Czechoslovakia, 19686.1.4Reaction to the Brezhnev Doctrine
6.2

Similarities Between Hungary & Czechoslovakia

6.2.1Hungary and Czechoslovakia 16.2.2Hungary & Czechoslovakia 2
6.3

Why was the Berlin Wall Built?

6.3.1The Berlin Wall 16.3.2The Berlin Wall 26.3.3The U2 Crisis
6.4

Solidarity in Poland & Soviet Influence

6.4.1Solidarity in Poland
6.5

Gorbachev's Responsibility

6.5.1Reagan & Gorbachev6.5.2Reagan and the ‘Second Cold War’6.5.3The Collapse of Soviet Control6.5.4The Collapse of the USSR

Practice questions on The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 1964

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    US Attacks on North Vietnam Put in order
  2. 2
    VC victories in 1964: Fill in the list
  3. 3
    Why did Johnson never actually declare war on the North?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    In 1964, tensions between North Vietnam and the United States were increasing in the Gulf of Tonkin region.<br><br> Why did the North Vietnamese fire on the USS Maddox on 2nd August 1964 in the Gulf of Tonkin?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    After events in the Gulf of Tonkin in August 1964, the US government took steps to respond to the situation.<br><br>How did President Johnson use the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed on 7th August 1964?Multiple choice
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