How Did The Containment Policy Affect The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was an ongoing war between the Republic of South Vietnam and the Communist country of North Vietnam. There were various U.S. policies established in the Vietnam War that affected the outcome of the war. These policies included the Domino theory also known as the containment policy, the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, and Vietnamization. All of these U.S. policies significantly affected the Vietnam War in many different ways. The Domino Theory also known as the containment policy controlled most of the interactions between the U.S. and other countries during the early 1950s. The Domino Theory believed that if communism overruled a nation’s government then it would lead to a chain reaction of communist takeovers in surrounding nations.

On August 2nd, Torpedo boats from North Vietnam attached an American destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin. Shortly after the attack two U.S. destroyers reported that they were under attack on August 4th. As a result of the recent attacks President Lyndon B. Johnson issued a retaliatory attack on North Vietnam. He also requested for congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. The resolution stated “The United States regards as vital to its national interest and to world peace the maintenance of international peace and security in Southeast Asia.” The resolution also gave President Johnson to take all actions necessary in order to prevent any armed attack against U.S. forces. The Senate passed the resolution with a vote of 88 to 2. Johnson’s popularity increased in reply to his “restrained” management of the crisis. The Johnson administration continued to use the resolution as an excuse to commence heavy bombing in North Vietnam. The resolution started a war that lasted nearly eight years and killed over 58,000 U.S. troops. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution allowed the president to take all action necessary in order to resist any attacks against the United States. This decision by the U.S. was a big turning point in the war because it not only allowed the U.S. to defend itself, but to also attack any enemy forces against the United

had already sent combat troops to fight in Vietnam since 1965. As a result of this about 31,000 American lives were lost. From the start of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War to President Nixon’s time as president the U.S. had not made much progress in defeating North Vietnam. Although the enemy forces had engaged in much abuse by U.S. force, they still remained persistent in conquering South Vietnam who were being supported by the United States. President Nixon pursued a way to remove American troops without looking as if he was abandoning South Vietnam to communist forces. When he took office President Nixon, along with his advisors, presented a policy called Vietnamization. This new policy was aimed at ending American involvement in the Vietnam War by shifting all military responsibilities to South Vietnam. Nixon believed that by removing American troops and training South Vietnam’s military, it would prepare the South Vietnamese to take charge for their own defense against communist takeover. The Vietnamization strategy was first announced to the American people in a nationally televised speech by President Nixon on November 3, 1969. Nixon emphasized that his idea of “Vietnamization” did not follow the same lines as President Lyndon B. Johnson’s idea of “Americanization”. Nixon explained “The defense of freedom is everybody’s business, not just America’s business. And it is particularly the responsibility of