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.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
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.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Korean War Lesson
Dear Mr.Prez,
Because you are taking President Truman's position, you must become aware of the US's current position. Here is a short summary; Communism must be kept out of Korea, our goals have been partially accomplished, because we have managed to keep communism out of southern Korea.However, we have been unsuccessfull in infiltrating North Korea, which the Chinese have allied. General MacArthur also underestimated their strength, so soemthing must be done about that situation.President Truman felt as though saving South Korea from communism was a good enough success. Unfortunately, MacArthur ignored orders not to fight, and as a result of this, Truman saw fit to send him back to the US in order to avoid an unessesceary war. Containment did not succeed, and if we had attacked China, we surely would have lost many soldiers.
Because you are taking President Truman's position, you must become aware of the US's current position. Here is a short summary; Communism must be kept out of Korea, our goals have been partially accomplished, because we have managed to keep communism out of southern Korea.However, we have been unsuccessfull in infiltrating North Korea, which the Chinese have allied. General MacArthur also underestimated their strength, so soemthing must be done about that situation.President Truman felt as though saving South Korea from communism was a good enough success. Unfortunately, MacArthur ignored orders not to fight, and as a result of this, Truman saw fit to send him back to the US in order to avoid an unessesceary war. Containment did not succeed, and if we had attacked China, we surely would have lost many soldiers.
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