Gulf of Tonkin Incident and Resolution

Making Connections

About this Activity

Created by:LBJ Presidential Library
Historical Era:Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970s)
Thinking Skill:Historical Issues-Analysis & Decision-Making
Bloom's Taxonomy:Evaluating
Grade Level:High School

Students are tasked with reading 4 documents to evaluate whether the Gulf of Tonkin 'incident' was a valid justification for the passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. Embedded questions allow students to process each document as they build their knowledge and prepare for the final evaluation.

Grade Level: High School
Estimated time: 60 minutes

https://www.docsteach.org/activities/student/1-gulf-of-tonkin-resolution

Suggested Teaching Instructions

1. Students will read and examine the official government documents related to the attacks on the USS Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin (Vietnam).

2. Students will read and examine the documents related to President Johnson's thoughts and speeches after the Gulf of Tonkin 'incident'.

3. Students will read the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution ("First Draft" is near identical to the final draft).

4. Students will evaluate whether the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was an appropriate and justified response to the event, understanding that the Resolution will allow the escalation of forces and eventually a full-scale war.

Documents in this activity

To the extent possible under law, LBJ Presidential Library has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to "Gulf of Tonkin Incident and Resolution".

Gulf of Tonkin Incident and Resolution

Making Connections

About this Activity

Suggested Teaching Instructions

Documents in this activity

The National Archives