Gulf of Tonkin incident
I can explain the importance of the Gulf of Tonkin incident.
Gulf of Tonkin incident
I can explain the importance of the Gulf of Tonkin incident.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- US President Lyndon B. Johnson continued US involvement in Vietnam.
- An American ship was attacked by North Vietnamese patrol boats in the Gulf of Tonkin.
- American ships thought they were attacked a second time, but they were mistaken.
- America launched air strikes on North Vietnam in response.
- America did not officially declare war on North Vietnam, but Congress authorised aggressive action to be taken.
Common misconception
Highly-trained members of the military and government tend not to make mistakes.
Everyone is capable of making errors, sometimes big and far-reaching ones, especially if they are under a great deal of stress.
Keywords
Gulf - a gulf is a deep inlet of a sea almost surrounded by land, with a narrow mouth
Patrol - a patrol is a repetitive journey aimed at keeping watch over a particular area
Congress - Congress is the group of elected representatives that decide laws in the United States, made up of the Senate and House of Representatives
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Video
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