Congress isn't made of dummies. Any politician knows that playing off people's fear is a good way to gain their support.
In the 1960s, fear of communism was everywhere in the U.S., and the Tonkin Gulf Resolution includes plenty of statements that play on that fear in order to justify waging war in Vietnam. The "domino theory" is not mentioned here, but it was a term in heavy circulation in the '60s, meaning that if one nation fell to communism (in this case, Vietnam), others would fall afterwards, leading eventually to a large portion of the world under communist rule. Not good for the U.S.
Questions About Fear
- Is making people afraid an effective way to gain their support?
- Might fear be used purposefully to gain support for an otherwise controversial decision?
- Do people make different choices in an atmosphere of fear than they would without that fear?
- Were average Americans really that afraid of communism, or was it a result of years of propaganda?
Chew on This
Tonkin Gulf Resolution was passed and supported solely because it played on Americans' fear of communism.
Congress employed a strong fear of communism in getting Tonkin Gulf Resolution passed, which directly led to the American invasion of Vietnam.