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

In this activity, students will examine four documents showing the progression from the Gulf of Tonkin "incident" to the passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. They will evaluate whether there was valid justification to pass the resolution. Embedded questions allow students to process each document as they build their knowledge and prepare for their final evaluation.

https://www.docsteach.org/activities/student/events-leading-to-the-gulf-of-tonkin-resolution

Suggested Teaching Instructions

Use this activity while teaching about the Vietnam War, war powers, or separation of powers. For grades 7-12. Approximate time needed is 60 minutes.

Ask students to complete the activity individually, in pairs, or in small groups. Alternatively, you can look at the activity as a full class and assign the final activity to be done individually.

Students will be presented with official government documents related to the attacks on the USS Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin (Vietnam), documents related to President Johnson's thoughts and speeches after the Gulf of Tonkin "incident," and the the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution itself (this "first draft" is near identical to the final draft).

As they progress through the documents, they should respond to the questions posed after each document and enter their responses in the blank boxes that follow.

Once they have looked at all four documents, students should click on "When You're Done," where they will be presented with the final question:

Was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution the appropriate response to the attack on the USS Maddox?

Students should evaluate whether the resolution was a justified response to the event – understanding that it would allow the escalation of forces and eventually a full-scale war.

Facilitate a class discussion based on students' evaluations.

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