LBJ’s Foreign Policy

Point of View: Dominican Republic

• Based on the video, prepare a point of view on why the United States sent troops to the Dominican Republic.

LBJ’s Unpopularity Rises• 1965LBJ sent 30,000 American

troops to the Dominican Republic to prevent a pro-Castro/Communist government from gaining power

• Panamanians demanded U.S. withdraw from Panama Canal– LBJ used force to suppress uprising

• LBJ (1963-1968) is most remembered for his failure to end the Vietnam War.

• Other areas of action– Cuba: LBJ increased hostility towards Castro’s

regime• Cuba cut off freshwater supply to American

base at Guantanamo Bay• Americans responded by building own water

treatment plant• LBJ increased U2 flights over Cuba; Castro

threatened to shot down any U.S. planes

• http://millercenter.org/president/lbjohnson/essays/biography/5

Mystery Q: Re-election

• Was Lyndon Johnson able to run for President in the 1968 Presidential Election?

• What world event caused LBJ to not seek reelection?

• LBJ decided not to run in 1968 due to an overwhelmingly unpopular rating with Americans due to the Vietnam War.

LBJ’s Decision not to run

• What reasons does LBJ give for not running in 1968?

• What feeling is expressed by LBJ in the clip?

TOD: Foreign Policy

• How did the beliefs of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson about the spread of communism influence their foreign policy decisions?

• What were they willing and not willing to do to stop communism and preserve democracy?