26.2 Video Escalation

What action did the United States take after the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to prepare for war?

• Withdrew all military advisors from Vietnam.

• Reinstated the military draft and began mobilizing.

• Declared war on North Vietnam.

• Signed a peace treaty with North Vietnam.

Why did President Lyndon Johnson decide to send US troops into Vietnam despite his earlier campaign promise?

• He believed North Vietnam was about to surrender.

• He was pressured by the United Nations to intervene.

• He feared South Vietnam would fall to communists and had public support for intervention.

• He wanted to test new military technology.

What was General William Westmoreland's primary belief regarding the South Vietnamese forces and the Viet Cong?

• The South Vietnamese were strong enough to defeat the Viet Cong alone.

• The Viet Cong would be easily overwhelmed by more US ground troops and superior weapons.

• The Viet Cong were too powerful and could not be defeated.

• The South Vietnamese should negotiate a peace treaty with the Viet Cong.

Which of the following was a common tactic used by the Viet Cong against US forces?

• Direct, large-scale frontal assaults in open fields.

• Relying solely on air superiority and long-range missiles.

• Using intricate tunnel systems, booby traps, and hidden ambushes.

• Engaging in naval blockades and sea battles.

What was the purpose of Operation Rolling Thunder, initiated by the United States?

• To provide humanitarian aid to South Vietnamese civilians.

• To weaken North Vietnamese forces through a massive bombing campaign.

• To establish a permanent US military presence in North Vietnam.

• To negotiate a ceasefire with the Viet Cong.

What was one of the primary goals of Operation Rolling Thunder?

• To establish a permanent US military presence in North Vietnam.

• To boost US morale and public opinion at home.

• To negotiate a peace treaty with Ho Chi Minh.

• To completely withdraw US troops from Vietnam.

What was the purpose of using herbicides and chemicals like Agent Orange and Napalm during the Vietnam War?

• To create new agricultural land for South Vietnamese farmers.

• To clear jungle cover and expose enemy positions.

• To purify water sources for US troops.

• To build defensive barriers against Viet Cong attacks.

What was a significant outcome of the Tet Offensive for the United States?

• It led to a swift and decisive military victory for the US, ending the war.

• It significantly increased American public support for President Johnson and the war.

• It exposed a "credibility gap" in the government's reporting and led to a decline in public support for the war.

• It resulted in a major territorial gain for South Vietnam.

How did media coverage change after the Tet Offensive?

• It focused primarily on positive stories of American heroism and success.

• It began to criticize the war and report on US casualties, influencing public opinion.

• It was heavily censored by the US government to maintain morale.

• It shifted its focus entirely to domestic issues, ignoring the war.

What did President Johnson's comment, "If I've lost Walter Cronkite, then it's over. I've lost Mr. Average Citizen," signify?

• His belief that the war was about to end with a US victory.

• His understanding that public support for the war had collapsed.

• His frustration with Cronkite's inaccurate reporting.

• His plan to replace Cronkite with a more supportive journalist.