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"doves" argue against involvement
The Doves contended that escalating the war could not guarantee victory, and that winning was not possible, due to how fighting a guerrilla war in an unfamiliar jungle was going to be difficult and deadly. They pointed how US involvement in Korea sacrificed too much and achieved too little. Doves argued involvement was not in nation's interest. US had no business in another nation's civil war. They questioned strategic value of Vietnam to US, and also how the direct US involvement might draw in -
Hawks argue for involvement
The Hawks stressed Munich Pact of 1938, in which it was intended to appease Germany, but instead only allowed for continued aggression. Some argued US Credibility, in how allies must be able to rely on Us the "Leader of the free world". Hawks wanted US to make statement that it will challenge to meet communist power anywhere. Finally, many stressed the domino effect, in how the fall of Vietnam would lead to the fall of Southeast Asia to communism as a whole. -
Vietnam declares Independence
Ho Chi Minh made this annoucement of this independence from french rule. He started his speech with the opening from the declaration of independence which seemed to want the US to support him. The Vietnamese started to fight against french rule. -
US Miltary aids French Indochina
This aid rose from $10 million in 1950 to more than $100 million in a year. By 1954, the United States was paying 80 percent of the cost of the war in Indochina. Truman was determined to stop any further communist advance in Asia. For this reason, he called for an increase in military aid towards French Indochina. -
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The decisive battle of the First Indochina war that began in March 1954. Viet Minh launches a surprise attack against French military base at Dien Bien phu. Soon the base was surrounded. A loss at Dien Bien might remove French from the war. He wanted commitment from other nations and take unified military action. Eisenhower suggested to the public that the domino theory might take place, in which like domino, nation after nation would fall to communism. Yet on May 7, 1954, Viet Minh finally ove -
Geneva Accords
Vietnam and the French finally end the war. This makes them sign the treaty called the Geneva Accords which seperates Vietnam along the 17th parallel. The Viet Minh would move north and the French would move south. As the French started to withdraw from Vietnam, the US started to move in. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
NVA boats struck back at the US destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin with machine guns and torpedoes. LBJ sent a warning to Hanoi warning uprovoked attacks would bring grave consequences. The US had to study these events and give some reports and fight back. -
Gulf of Tonking Resolution
Two days later, Congress passed the resolution. This resolution allowed the president “to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.” It did not activate the war, but it gave the president permission to expand the role that America has in this situation. -
An American War
January 1, 1965
In 1965, US took over main responsibility of fighting war since landing of first combat forces.
They adopted a two-pronged strategy- first, they would take key cities and vital sites along the coast and turn them into military bases. Then they would launch search and destroy missions. The South Vietnamese played a supporting role from that point on. This showed the Americanization of the war. The war now belonged to the US, not the South Vietnamese. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
February 7th, 1965 - Massive air strikes called the “Operation Rolling Thunder” by the Americans after getting attacked by the Vietnamese. President’s advisers believed that this action gave a boost to Vietnam army and helped avoided a collapse from South Vietnam. US began to bomb some more places afterwards. -
Troops Arrive in Vietnam
About 3500 U.S. Marines landed on Da Nang, South Vietnam. Soon they will start fighting the Vietnamese. The marines have to prepare foxholes and bring more supplies onto the island. They had to prepare to defend for a Viet Cong attack but soon the marines recieved orders to find and eliminate enemies. -
Operation Starlite
August 1st, 1965 - US’ first major assault by ground troops. This was called the “Operation Starlite.” It happened against 1500 viet cong who were preparing to attack an American air base near the coast. Americans were the victors here, and 600 of the Viet Cong were killed while 45 Americans were killed.
