01:512:104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 31: Cuban Missile Crisis, Gulf Of Tonkin Incident, Gulf Of Tonkin Resolution
13 May 2018
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Chapter 31 - Continuing Divisons and New Limits
I. Introduction
Developing countries became entangled in Cold War diplomacy because both
America and the Soviet Union wanted them as allies. The Third World altered
the bipolar nature of the Cold War.
II. Kennedy’s Nation Building, Arms Buildup, and the Cuban Missile Crisis
A. Nation Building and Counterinsurgency
Based on the concept of nation building, the Kennedy administration initiated
aid programs to help developing nations through the early states of
nationhood. The concept of counterinsurgency was the tactic used to defeat
revolutionaries in Third World countries friendly to the United States.
B. Military Expansion
John Kennedy vowed to improve the military, and his “flexible response”
sought ways to fight any kind of war.
C. Berlin Wall
Kennedy rejected Soviet demands concerning Berlin, and he vowed to defend
West Berlin. The Soviets responded by building the Berlin Wall to stop the
flow of Eastern Germans into the more prosperous Western zone.
D. Bay of Pigs Invasion
Kennedy inherited the Bay of Pigs invasion plan, but he ordered that no
Americans be directly involved. The April 1961 invasion was a disaster.
E. Cuban Missile Crisis
Russia provided military assistance to Cuba and placed nuclear missiles on
the island. Discovery of these missiles in 1962 sparked a frightening episode
of brinkmanship.
F. Kennedy’s Handling of the Crisis
Critics assert that Kennedy courted disaster in the way in which he handled
the crisis.
G. Aftermath
The crisis led to some easing of Soviet?American tensions. However, the
Soviet pledge to catch up in the nuclear arms race increased tensions.
III. Johnson and Americanization of the War in Vietnam
A. Nuclear Proliferation Treaty
Johnson signed a non?proliferation treaty in 1968, but Vietnam meant that
Cold War tensions would continue.
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B. Kennedy’s Legacy in Vietnam
Kennedy sent more than 16,000 advisors to Vietnam. Diem created problems
because of his oppressive policies and his persecution of Buddhists. The CIA
urged South Vietnamese officers to overthrow Diem, and they murdered him
in 1963.
C. Tonkin Gulf Incident
Despite flimsy evidence of attacks on American ships, in 1964 Congress
passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution giving Lyndon Johnson authority to wage
war on North Vietnam.
D. Bombing Campaigns in Laos and Vietnam
In 1964 stepped-up bombing of Laos. After the Vietcong attacked the
American airfield at Pleiku, Johnson ordered Operation Rolling Thunder
against North Vietnam.
E. Troop Strength
Johnson decided to increase U.S. ground forces in Vietnam in July 1965. U.S.
troop strength peaked in 1969 at 543,400.
IV. Vietnam: Escalation, Carnage, and Protest
A. My Lai Massacre
A gruesome atrocity occurred at the village of My Lai, where Americans killed
some 500 civilians.
B. American Soldiers in Vietnam
Many Americans in Vietnam just tried to survive their tours of duty in a brutal
and inhospitable environment.
C. Growing Antiwar Sentiment
Protests at home grew along with the military escalation in Vietnam, but
Johnson vowed to continue the war.
D. McNamara’s Doubts
McNamara became convinced that continued bombing would not win the war.
E. Tet Offensive
The Vietcong and North Vietnamese offensive in 1968 ended in an American
victory, but many people came to believe that the war could not be won.
F. Dollar/Gold Crisis
Rampant deficit spending to finance the war caused Europeans to redeem
dollars for gold, providing further pressure on the Johnson Administration to
end the war.
G. Johnson’s Exit
On March 31, 1968, Johnson announced a halt to the bombing of most of
North Vietnam, asked Hanoi to begin negotiations to end the war, and
announced that he would not run for reelection.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Chapter 31 - continuing divisons and new limits: introduction. Developing countries became entangled in cold war diplomacy because both. America and the soviet union wanted them as allies. The third world altered the bipolar nature of the cold war. Kennedy"s nation building, arms buildup, and the cuban missile crisis: nation building and counterinsurgency. Based on the concept of nation building, the kennedy administration initiated aid programs to help developing nations through the early states of nationhood. The concept of counterinsurgency was the tactic used to defeat revolutionaries in third world countries friendly to the united states: military expansion. John kennedy vowed to improve the military, and his flexible response sought ways to fight any kind of war: berlin wall. Kennedy rejected soviet demands concerning berlin, and he vowed to defend. The soviets responded by building the berlin wall to stop the flow of eastern germans into the more prosperous western zone: bay of pigs invasion.
