Which President was most responsible for US escalating involvement in Vietnam? 5.0 / 5 based on 3 ratings ? HistoryAmerica - 19th and 20th centuryASEdexcel Created by: AnnabelCreated on: 10-05-13 17:34 Truman 1945-52 Responsible Funded 80% of French war effort Set up ideological framwork (Truman doctrine/ Containment theory) Politically backed Bao Dai through the French Korean war increased US involvement in that region 'Lost' China to communism in 1949 Sent the 7th Fleet to Taiwon Not Responsible No direct involvement Under pressure from pre-existing beliefs about communism (Kennan's long telegram) 1 of 4 Eisenhower 1953-60 Responsible Refused to sign the Geneva deal in 1954 because it banned foreign troops Sent 600 advisors to train the ARVN in 1956 Sent 200 mechanics to Dien Bien Phu to help the French Publicly backed Diem by rigging the 1955 elections Blocked the 1956 elections Did not respond to the 1955 VC insurgency, allowing the unrest to grow Started SEATO Not Responsible Did not become very involved in Dien Bien Phu- no troops or air attacks No troops were sent to Vietnam during his presidency Did not help Britich in Malaysia Predicted that the US would lose if it came down to guerilla warfare 2 of 4 Kennedy 1961-63 Responsible Allowed the use of chemical weapons like Agent Orange Used the green berets as secret counter-insurgency troops Sent US helicopters Became trapped by his campaign rhetoric and heavy critcism of Truman Assassinated Diem in 1963 Not Responsible No public troops Victim of Quagmire Theory- no way to go but to continue down the route 3 of 4 Johnson 1963-68 Responsible Gulf of Tonkin Resolution 1964- absolute power and unlimited finances to escalate the war Operation Barrel Roll 1964- bombing of Laos (Ho Chi Minh Trail) Operation Rolling Thunder 1965- bombing of North Vietnam First public troops sent to protect US base Da Nang in 1965 Search and destroy began in 1966 Troops reached full escalation of 542,000 by 1968 Not Responsible Quagmire theory- especially because trapped by Kennedy's policies from 1963-64 Surrounded be Kennedy's pro-war advisors like McNamara Product of his time- believing in monolithic comunism and domino theory Started peace talks in 1965 (but they were blocked by Nixon) 4 of 4
Comments
No comments have yet been made