1. Regardless of the outcome, should the President of the United States have a right to privacy in regards to the Oval Office tapes? Explain.
No, I do not think that the President should have the right to keep the tapes, especially because they were evidence of the Watergate scandal. If Nixon truly had not been a part of the Watergate Scandal then he wouldn't have objected as much to showing them to the supreme court. I think that the president should have a right to keep certain articles private, but if it is a mnatter of national security, then I think exceptions should be made.
2. Was President Nixon justified when he fired special prosecutor Archibald Cox? Explain.
No, Nixon was not justified in firing Archibald Cox because he was only doing it to prevent any more of the tapes being given to the Supreme Court. Nixon claimed that they were a matter of national security, and so he offered to provide a summary of the rest of the tapes (only eight had been given up by Nixon); however, Archibald said that that would not be suffiecient.
3. Was Nixon creating a Constitutional crisis by refusing to hand-over the tapes? Explain.
Yes because the president is entitled to the right to privacy, but since he refused to hand over the tapes it became an issue of national security.
4. Why do you think the American public was so outraged by Watergate?
Because the president had lied to the country, he had knowingly violated the law, and participated in the cover up of Watergate.
5. Do you think President Nixon should have resigned? Explain.
Yes because he would have been impeached by the Supreme court for obstructing justice, defying Judiciary Commitee subpoenas an misusing the presedential power to violate the constitutional rights of US citizens.
6. Do you think President Nixon should have been prosecuted? Explain.
Yes i think Nixon should have been prosecuted. If he had come clean about his crimes in the beginning I think that he wouldn't have needed to step down, but even at the very end he insisyed he was innocent.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Watergate: Nixon's Downfall
1. How were the "plumbers" connected to President Nixon? They worked for Nixon, they made sure government secrets did not get out. They were the ones that broke in Watergate. they also tried to find unflattering secrets about people who were against him.
2. Who was the judge? Why did he hand out maximum sentences?
John Sirica was the judge. He handed out maximum sentences because he thought the men had not acted alone.
3. How were Mitchell and Dean connected to Nixon?Mitchell was Nixon's former attorney general. Dean was on the presidential counsel.
4. How were Haldeman and Erlichman connected to Nixon?White house cheif of staff, chief domestic advisor.
5. What did the following men tell the Senate about Nixon?
a. Dean-revelaed that Nixon had been deeply involved in the cover-up.
b. Butterfield-revelaed Nixon had taped nearly all of his presidential conversations.
6. Who was fired or forced to resign in the "massacre"? Atoorney General Richardson
7. Why weren't investigators satisified with the transcripts? beacuse they had been edited and contained large gaps.
8. What did the tapes reveal? Nixon had known about the memebers of his adminsitration's involovement in the burglary, he also agrred to the plan to obstruct the FBI's investigation.
9. Why did Vice President Spiro Agnew resign? he had accepted bribes from engineering firms while he had been Governor of Maryland.
10. What did the House Judiciary Committee charge President Nixon with?
11. How did the Watergate scandal create a constitutional crisis?
2. Who was the judge? Why did he hand out maximum sentences?
John Sirica was the judge. He handed out maximum sentences because he thought the men had not acted alone.
3. How were Mitchell and Dean connected to Nixon?Mitchell was Nixon's former attorney general. Dean was on the presidential counsel.
4. How were Haldeman and Erlichman connected to Nixon?White house cheif of staff, chief domestic advisor.
5. What did the following men tell the Senate about Nixon?
a. Dean-revelaed that Nixon had been deeply involved in the cover-up.
b. Butterfield-revelaed Nixon had taped nearly all of his presidential conversations.
6. Who was fired or forced to resign in the "massacre"? Atoorney General Richardson
7. Why weren't investigators satisified with the transcripts? beacuse they had been edited and contained large gaps.
8. What did the tapes reveal? Nixon had known about the memebers of his adminsitration's involovement in the burglary, he also agrred to the plan to obstruct the FBI's investigation.
9. Why did Vice President Spiro Agnew resign? he had accepted bribes from engineering firms while he had been Governor of Maryland.
10. What did the House Judiciary Committee charge President Nixon with?
11. How did the Watergate scandal create a constitutional crisis?
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Women Fight for Equality
1. Experiences In the Workplace
Once women realized the descrimination they faced in the workplace from their employers, they were motivated to further the feminist to reach the goal of complete equality to men.
2. Experiences in social activism
When women as a collective began to realize that the discrimination they faced when attempting to become involved in social activism, they realized that their cases were not isolated issues, but evidence of a large scale sexism which the country was facing.
3. "Consciousness raising"
Many groups, such as the NOW, were formed around this time in order to make the cause of feminism more widespread and more relevant in legslation. Their passionate activism helped get legislation passed which banned the descrimination of gender when hireing for jobs, and made the cause more widespread and organized.
4. Feminism
All of the previously listed factors went into making the feminst movement very wide spread. Women were realizing what they had been denied, and fought to get it.
5. Betty Friedan and The Feminine Mystique
This magazine was very popular with women, and intensified women's desire for men and women's equal rights.
6. Civil Rights Act of 1964
This act was the result of the hard work of many feminist activists and officialy made it illegal to descriminate based on gender. It was a major victory for the feminist movemnet.
7. National Organization for Women (NOW)
This foundadition helped increase awareness for the feminist movement and fought hard for pro-feminist legislation.
8. Gloria Steinem and Ms. Magazine
Steinem and her magazine were more factors which gained support and awareness for the feminist cause. The major boost in awareness for the cause during this time is what fuled the pro-faminist legislation which was passed.
9. Congress
Congress passed legislation which helped the feminist cause, including the Civil Rights act.
10. Supreme Court
At this time the Supreme Court began to make pro-feminist rulings which were major victories for the cause.
11. The Equal rights Amendment would have guaranteed equal rights under the law, regardless of gender. Who opposed this amendment? Why?
Extreme conservatives and sexist people opposed this movement because they saw the way of life which they invisioned being lost. The traditional lifestyle of a woman's place being at the home and a man's place being at work was fading and it scared them.
Once women realized the descrimination they faced in the workplace from their employers, they were motivated to further the feminist to reach the goal of complete equality to men.
2. Experiences in social activism
When women as a collective began to realize that the discrimination they faced when attempting to become involved in social activism, they realized that their cases were not isolated issues, but evidence of a large scale sexism which the country was facing.
3. "Consciousness raising"
Many groups, such as the NOW, were formed around this time in order to make the cause of feminism more widespread and more relevant in legslation. Their passionate activism helped get legislation passed which banned the descrimination of gender when hireing for jobs, and made the cause more widespread and organized.
4. Feminism
All of the previously listed factors went into making the feminst movement very wide spread. Women were realizing what they had been denied, and fought to get it.
5. Betty Friedan and The Feminine Mystique
This magazine was very popular with women, and intensified women's desire for men and women's equal rights.
6. Civil Rights Act of 1964
This act was the result of the hard work of many feminist activists and officialy made it illegal to descriminate based on gender. It was a major victory for the feminist movemnet.
7. National Organization for Women (NOW)
This foundadition helped increase awareness for the feminist movement and fought hard for pro-feminist legislation.
8. Gloria Steinem and Ms. Magazine
Steinem and her magazine were more factors which gained support and awareness for the feminist cause. The major boost in awareness for the cause during this time is what fuled the pro-faminist legislation which was passed.
9. Congress
Congress passed legislation which helped the feminist cause, including the Civil Rights act.
10. Supreme Court
At this time the Supreme Court began to make pro-feminist rulings which were major victories for the cause.
11. The Equal rights Amendment would have guaranteed equal rights under the law, regardless of gender. Who opposed this amendment? Why?
Extreme conservatives and sexist people opposed this movement because they saw the way of life which they invisioned being lost. The traditional lifestyle of a woman's place being at the home and a man's place being at work was fading and it scared them.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
The U.S. struggles against the Communist in Vietnam
2. Now write up your answer. Use this structure:
a. The U.S. weaknesses were: soldiers was afraid of ambushes by Viet Cong, and nor did they have the support of vietnam. it costed 400,000 dollars to kill one Viet Cong solider, and the US spent 20 billion on the war every year.
b. At the same time, the Communist strengths were: The determination they had to win because America constantly tried to close the supply routes to North Vietnam,but Viet COng did everything in itss power to keep them open, because they were what Viet Cognwwas supplied with.
c. The U.S. forces did have some successes. For example: Operation Rolling Thuder was somewhat effecgive, but it killed many citizens. It damaged NV supply routes and war effoert, and it enabled the US to attack Communists.
d. However, there were some major failures as well. Examples of these were: The My Lai Massacre, which went unoticed for some time, but the leader of the force was sentenced to 20 years of hard labor. America lost a lot of support from vietnam, and Americans were beginning to critcize the war.
e. The Viet Cong had some major successes, such as:
f. However, they also suffered defeats, for example:The Tet Offensive, which was a failure because the communist had hoped that the people of South Vietnam would rise up and join them, but they did not. They lost 10,000 fighters, which was a heavy blow for them.
g. If I had to identify one major American weakness, it would be [Insert weakness here] because: Inexperienced fighters, because LJ had to draft many soliders, which only got him more protests from America, he lost support quickly. INexperineced soldiers had lower morale because they were sent to start fighting in Vietnam, and they were expecting to earn glory.
h. The key Viet Cong strength was [Insert strength here] because:
the use of guerilla tactics, because they were efffectively used to lower the morale of American troops.
a. The U.S. weaknesses were: soldiers was afraid of ambushes by Viet Cong, and nor did they have the support of vietnam. it costed 400,000 dollars to kill one Viet Cong solider, and the US spent 20 billion on the war every year.
b. At the same time, the Communist strengths were: The determination they had to win because America constantly tried to close the supply routes to North Vietnam,but Viet COng did everything in itss power to keep them open, because they were what Viet Cognwwas supplied with.
c. The U.S. forces did have some successes. For example: Operation Rolling Thuder was somewhat effecgive, but it killed many citizens. It damaged NV supply routes and war effoert, and it enabled the US to attack Communists.
d. However, there were some major failures as well. Examples of these were: The My Lai Massacre, which went unoticed for some time, but the leader of the force was sentenced to 20 years of hard labor. America lost a lot of support from vietnam, and Americans were beginning to critcize the war.
e. The Viet Cong had some major successes, such as:
f. However, they also suffered defeats, for example:The Tet Offensive, which was a failure because the communist had hoped that the people of South Vietnam would rise up and join them, but they did not. They lost 10,000 fighters, which was a heavy blow for them.
g. If I had to identify one major American weakness, it would be [Insert weakness here] because: Inexperienced fighters, because LJ had to draft many soliders, which only got him more protests from America, he lost support quickly. INexperineced soldiers had lower morale because they were sent to start fighting in Vietnam, and they were expecting to earn glory.
h. The key Viet Cong strength was [Insert strength here] because:
the use of guerilla tactics, because they were efffectively used to lower the morale of American troops.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
the U.S. Enters the Vietnam War
1. Many neutral observers in Vietnam were critical of US policy. Explain why.
Because the citizens of Vietnam were also being attacked. The bombings, chemical warfare, and search and destroy tactics were used.
2. Explain how US politicians would have defended their policies.
The effects of ending communism in Vietnam would have outweighed to negative effects.
3. The following events are not listed in correct date order. Place them in the correct chronological order. (Write the year inside the parenthesis, i.e. (1965). Then note the reason for each U.S. action, and how it brought the U.S. into deeper involvement in Vietnam.
The reasons you can choose from are: No direct involvement; financial support; political involvement; military involvement. Also, note what events triggered the increased involvement.
(1963) Assassination of JFK - Johnson becomes president (Military Involvement)
(1955) Formation of South Vietnam (Political Involvement)
(1964) Gulf of Tonkin Incident (Military)
(1962) Number of 'advisers' reaches over 11,500 (Military)
(1962) JFK sends military advisers (Military)
(1965) U.S. Marines land at Da Nang (Military)
(1955) U.S. stops elections in Vietnamc(Political)
(1963) U.S. supports South Vietnam government after army overthrow Diem (Financial)
(1960) Viet Cong attacks on U.S. and South Vietnam bases (Military)
(1960) Viet Cong formed (Military)
4. Choose two events that you think were critical in getting the U.S. involved in a war in Vietnam. Explain
your choice.
Because the citizens of Vietnam were also being attacked. The bombings, chemical warfare, and search and destroy tactics were used.
2. Explain how US politicians would have defended their policies.
The effects of ending communism in Vietnam would have outweighed to negative effects.
3. The following events are not listed in correct date order. Place them in the correct chronological order. (Write the year inside the parenthesis, i.e. (1965). Then note the reason for each U.S. action, and how it brought the U.S. into deeper involvement in Vietnam.
The reasons you can choose from are: No direct involvement; financial support; political involvement; military involvement. Also, note what events triggered the increased involvement.
(1963) Assassination of JFK - Johnson becomes president (Military Involvement)
(1955) Formation of South Vietnam (Political Involvement)
(1964) Gulf of Tonkin Incident (Military)
(1962) Number of 'advisers' reaches over 11,500 (Military)
(1962) JFK sends military advisers (Military)
(1965) U.S. Marines land at Da Nang (Military)
(1955) U.S. stops elections in Vietnamc(Political)
(1963) U.S. supports South Vietnam government after army overthrow Diem (Financial)
(1960) Viet Cong attacks on U.S. and South Vietnam bases (Military)
(1960) Viet Cong formed (Military)
4. Choose two events that you think were critical in getting the U.S. involved in a war in Vietnam. Explain
your choice.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Eisenhower & The Cold War
1. The Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb in 1949.
President Truman had to decide whether or not to create an even more powerful weapon. Scientists argued over whether or not to create the H-Bomb (hydrogen bomb, and the creation of the bomb presented many moral issues. The US created one a year before the Soviets.
2. In 1951, the Iranian prime minister placed the oil industry in Iran under the Iranian government’s control.
US feared that the British protesting against Iranian government control of oil might force Iran to side with the USSR and go Communist. US gave several million dollars to anti-Mossagedh suuportes, in order to put the old Shah back in power.
3. The Guatemalan head of government gave American-owned land in Guatemala to peasants.
The CIA trained an army to invade Guatemala, the Guatemalans refused to prtect the president, so he resigned. The leader of the army became the new dictator of the country.
4. In 1956, Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt and occupied the Suez Canal.
The UN persuaded Britain, France, and Israel to back down from the fight, but allowed Egypt to keep control of the canal
5. Soviet tanks invaded Hungary and fired on protesters in 1956.
US did nothing to help Hungary, despite the Truman Doctrine, which promised to fight against Communism in any country that did not want it.
6. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik.
Americans were upset at being beaten by the Soviets, and hastely poured money into their own programs.
7. In 1960, the Soviet Union brought down an American U-2 piloted by Francis Gary Powers.
Eisenhower refused to admit that U2 had been spying on the Soviets, would not give an apology to Khrushchev, and so Khrushchev took back his invitation to let the president visit the USSR. Tensions heightened between the two nations.
President Truman had to decide whether or not to create an even more powerful weapon. Scientists argued over whether or not to create the H-Bomb (hydrogen bomb, and the creation of the bomb presented many moral issues. The US created one a year before the Soviets.
2. In 1951, the Iranian prime minister placed the oil industry in Iran under the Iranian government’s control.
US feared that the British protesting against Iranian government control of oil might force Iran to side with the USSR and go Communist. US gave several million dollars to anti-Mossagedh suuportes, in order to put the old Shah back in power.
3. The Guatemalan head of government gave American-owned land in Guatemala to peasants.
The CIA trained an army to invade Guatemala, the Guatemalans refused to prtect the president, so he resigned. The leader of the army became the new dictator of the country.
4. In 1956, Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt and occupied the Suez Canal.
The UN persuaded Britain, France, and Israel to back down from the fight, but allowed Egypt to keep control of the canal
5. Soviet tanks invaded Hungary and fired on protesters in 1956.
US did nothing to help Hungary, despite the Truman Doctrine, which promised to fight against Communism in any country that did not want it.
6. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik.
Americans were upset at being beaten by the Soviets, and hastely poured money into their own programs.
7. In 1960, the Soviet Union brought down an American U-2 piloted by Francis Gary Powers.
Eisenhower refused to admit that U2 had been spying on the Soviets, would not give an apology to Khrushchev, and so Khrushchev took back his invitation to let the president visit the USSR. Tensions heightened between the two nations.
Monday, April 5, 2010
The Red Scare (1950's)
1. HUAC-"House Un-American Activities Committee"investigated Communist influences in the movie industry. Believed Communists were sneaking propoganda into films.
2. Blacklist-list of people condemned in Hollywood for having a Communist background.
3. Alger Hiss-Accused by a former Communist spy for espionage, government did not charge him with espionage but with perjury, Nixon persued the case, garnering favor with America.
4. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg-minor activists in American Communist Party. Denied charges against them for being communist(pleaded the fifth amendment. Found guilty of espionage sentenced to death.
5. Joseph McCarthy-republican from Wisconsin, reputation for being an ineffective legislator. Made unsupported accusations on suspected Communists.
6. McCarthyism-Term used for attacks on commusints.
7.Joseph McCarthy wanted to gain popularity inorder to be reelected. He decided to say that Communists were taking over the government. He used McCarthyism (accusing people of disloyalty without evidence) and claimed to know people who were communists, but never actually produced a single name. He only accused people in the Senate, because he was immune to being sued by the Senate for slander. The Republican party did nothing to stop him because they believed they would win the 1952 pesedential election if the public viewed them as purging the nation of communists. However, a small group of Republicans did speak out on the issue.
2. Blacklist-list of people condemned in Hollywood for having a Communist background.
3. Alger Hiss-Accused by a former Communist spy for espionage, government did not charge him with espionage but with perjury, Nixon persued the case, garnering favor with America.
4. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg-minor activists in American Communist Party. Denied charges against them for being communist(pleaded the fifth amendment. Found guilty of espionage sentenced to death.
5. Joseph McCarthy-republican from Wisconsin, reputation for being an ineffective legislator. Made unsupported accusations on suspected Communists.
6. McCarthyism-Term used for attacks on commusints.
7.Joseph McCarthy wanted to gain popularity inorder to be reelected. He decided to say that Communists were taking over the government. He used McCarthyism (accusing people of disloyalty without evidence) and claimed to know people who were communists, but never actually produced a single name. He only accused people in the Senate, because he was immune to being sued by the Senate for slander. The Republican party did nothing to stop him because they believed they would win the 1952 pesedential election if the public viewed them as purging the nation of communists. However, a small group of Republicans did speak out on the issue.
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