Question

What incident in the Gulf of Tonkin caused a crisis for President Lyndon B. Johnson? A. An American ship fired on a South Vietnamese ship. B. A North Vietnamese ship fired on an American ship. C. A North Vietnamese ship fired on a South Vietnamese village. D. An American ship fired on a North Vietnamese ship.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. A North Vietnamese ship fired on an American ship.

Explanation:

While on a spionage mission, a US electronic surveillance ship, the Maddox, was attacked by three North Vietnamese torpedo boats on August 2, 1964. The Maddox shot warning shots and asked for help. F-8 Jets were sent from a nearby carrier; one Vietnamese boat was badly damaged. The next day, the actions escalated and the American response was stronger. In the following days, president Lyndon B. Johnson asked for and got a Senate resolution (the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution) that gave him powers to fight a war in Vietnam.