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.
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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.
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
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.
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: Gulf of Tonkin incident, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: Gulf of Tonkin incident, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the The USA, 1954–75 conflict at home and abroad unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
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Adult supervision recommended
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Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Why did Ngo Dinh Diem refuse to allow elections in 1956 that would have unified the country?
Q2.How did the Buddhist monk, Thich Quang Duc, protest against Diem's regime on 11th June 1963?
Q3.Which neighbouring countries to Vietnam did the Ho Chi Minh Trail pass through? Choose two options.
Q4.Complete the following sentence: John F. became president of the United States in 1961.
Q5.Match the keywords to their correct definition.
fire bombs
defoliant used to destroy the jungle canopy
communist guerrilla force
Q6.Sort the following events into the order in which they occurred.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What happened in South Vietnam after the assassination of Diem?
Q2.What was the purpose of the OPLAN 34A missions conducted by the US Navy?
Q3.How many North Vietnamese patrol torpedo boats chased down and fired upon the USS Maddox on 2nd August 1964?
Q4.Match the vessel to the damage it received on 2nd August 1964.
a single bullet hole
four sailors dead, six injured