Vietnam and the End of the Cold War

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Question What two events convinced President Truman to help France in Vietnam? What two events convinced President Truman to help France in Vietnam?

Answer 1 – 10 The fall of China to communism and the Korean War The fall of China to communism and the Korean War

Question What did nightly news coverage of the Vietnam War on television do? What did nightly news coverage of the Vietnam War on television do?

Answer 1 – 20 Create a credibility gap between the government and the American people. Create a credibility gap between the government and the American people.

Question The Tet Offensive marked a major turning point in the Vietnam War because? The Tet Offensive marked a major turning point in the Vietnam War because?

Answer 1 – 30 More Americans began to feel the war could not be won. More Americans began to feel the war could not be won.

Question What does Glastnost (Openness) refer to? What does Glastnost (Openness) refer to?

Answer 1 – 40 More freedom of religion and speech. More freedom of religion and speech.

Question What does Perestroika (Restructuring) refer to? What does Perestroika (Restructuring) refer to?

Answer 1 – 50 Involves new economic planning including some capitalist reforms. Involves new economic planning including some capitalist reforms.

Question What did the Pentagon Papers reveal? What did the Pentagon Papers reveal?

Answer 2 – 10 The government had not been honest with the public about the Vietnam War. The government had not been honest with the public about the Vietnam War.

Question During the Vietnam War, American planes dropped a jellied gasoline explosive that explodes on contact called? During the Vietnam War, American planes dropped a jellied gasoline explosive that explodes on contact called?

Answer 2 – 20 Napalm Napalm

Question What effect did the battle at Dien Bien Phu have on the French in Indochina? What effect did the battle at Dien Bien Phu have on the French in Indochina?

Answer 2 – 30 After their defeat at Dien Bien Phu, the French decided to leave Indochina. After their defeat at Dien Bien Phu, the French decided to leave Indochina.

Question The Geneva Accords (1954), following France’s defeat at Dien Bien Phu, had what effect on Vietnam? The Geneva Accords (1954), following France’s defeat at Dien Bien Phu, had what effect on Vietnam?

Answer 2 – 40 Vietnam was temporarily split at the 17 th parallel until a free election could be held. Vietnam was temporarily split at the 17 th parallel until a free election could be held.

Question Why did the U.S. get involved in South Vietnam after the French left? Why did the U.S. get involved in South Vietnam after the French left?

Answer 2 – 50 To protect the pro-western government in the South. To protect the pro-western government in the South.

Question For what two reasons did the Vietminh originally form in Vietnam? For what two reasons did the Vietminh originally form in Vietnam?

Answer 3 – 10 To push the Japanese out during WWII and then achieve independence from colonial rule. To push the Japanese out during WWII and then achieve independence from colonial rule.

Question Why didn’t President Johnson want to order an invasion of North Vietnam during the war? Why didn’t President Johnson want to order an invasion of North Vietnam during the war?

Answer 3 – 20 He was afraid it would bring Chinese communists into the fight as had happened in Korea. He was afraid it would bring Chinese communists into the fight as had happened in Korea.

Question What happened at the Vietnamese village of My Lai that shocked the American public in 1969? What happened at the Vietnamese village of My Lai that shocked the American public in 1969?

Answer 3 – 30 American soldiers massacred a village of old men, women and children. Some accounts say they also raped women and children. American soldiers massacred a village of old men, women and children. Some accounts say they also raped women and children.

Question Why did President Johnson refuse to attack the Ho Chi Minh Trail? Why did President Johnson refuse to attack the Ho Chi Minh Trail?

Answer 3 – 40 Because it passed through Laos and Cambodia, who were neutral in the war. He didn’t want to expand the war outside of Vietnam and bring more countries into it. Because it passed through Laos and Cambodia, who were neutral in the war. He didn’t want to expand the war outside of Vietnam and bring more countries into it.

Question Why did the Vietcong’s power and influence increase in South Vietnam as the war progressed? Why did the Vietcong’s power and influence increase in South Vietnam as the war progressed?

Answer 3 – 50 The Vietcong used terror tactics and threats to control people in South Vietnam, however, the American military’s tactics of dropping napalm and agent orange on farmland and villages turned many South Vietnamese against the Americans. The Vietcong used terror tactics and threats to control people in South Vietnam, however, the American military’s tactics of dropping napalm and agent orange on farmland and villages turned many South Vietnamese against the Americans.

Question What was the “War Powers Act” and why was it passed by Congress? What was the “War Powers Act” and why was it passed by Congress?

Answer 4 – 10 The “War Powers Act” was passed by Congress to reclaim their constitutional war powers which they had seemingly handed over to the President with the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. The “War Powers Act” requires the President to inform Congress of any plans to move troops, and then to withdraw troops after 90 days if Congress hasn’t given their approval. The “War Powers Act” was passed by Congress to reclaim their constitutional war powers which they had seemingly handed over to the President with the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. The “War Powers Act” requires the President to inform Congress of any plans to move troops, and then to withdraw troops after 90 days if Congress hasn’t given their approval.

Question What made fighting in Vietnam so difficult for American soldiers? What made fighting in Vietnam so difficult for American soldiers?

Answer 4 – 20 Vietcong’s use of guerrilla warfare. Vietcong’s use of guerrilla warfare. Vietcong’s ability to hide among the civilian population. Vietcong’s ability to hide among the civilian population. American military tactics had negative effects on the civilian population and turned many Vietnamese against them. American military tactics had negative effects on the civilian population and turned many Vietnamese against them.

Question What two main factors led to the collapse of the Soviet Union’s economy? What two main factors led to the collapse of the Soviet Union’s economy?

Answer 4 – 30 Inefficient planning by the central government. Inefficient planning by the central government. Massive spending on the arms race against the U.S. Massive spending on the arms race against the U.S.

Question After Nixon invaded Cambodia, upsetting Congress, what action did Congress take to check his power? After Nixon invaded Cambodia, upsetting Congress, what action did Congress take to check his power?

Answer 4 – 40 Repealed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Repealed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Question Why did a South Vietnamese monk pour gasoline on himself and then silently burn? Why did a South Vietnamese monk pour gasoline on himself and then silently burn?

Answer 4 – 50 Diem was Catholic and had passed many anti-Buddhist policies which angered the Buddhist majority. Diem was Catholic and had passed many anti-Buddhist policies which angered the Buddhist majority.

Question What argument did John and Mary Tinker make in the Supreme Court Case Tinker v. Des Moines, to argue that they should not have been suspended for wearing their black arm bands protesting the Vietnam War? What argument did John and Mary Tinker make in the Supreme Court Case Tinker v. Des Moines, to argue that they should not have been suspended for wearing their black arm bands protesting the Vietnam War?

Answer 5 – 10 They argued that the armbands were a form of symbolic free speech guaranteed by the constitution. They argued that the armbands were a form of symbolic free speech guaranteed by the constitution.

Question What effect did the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution have on the constitutions War Powers? What effect did the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution have on the constitutions War Powers?

Answer 5 – 20 It gave the President the authority to act on his own militarily whenever he deemed it necessary. This in effect removed the constitution’s system of checks and balances in regards to war. It gave the President the authority to act on his own militarily whenever he deemed it necessary. This in effect removed the constitution’s system of checks and balances in regards to war.

Question Why were Chinese students and workers killed in Tiananmen Square in 1989? Why were Chinese students and workers killed in Tiananmen Square in 1989?

Answer 5 – 30 They had been protesting for the same democratic reforms in China which they had seen come to Eastern Europe. They had been protesting for the same democratic reforms in China which they had seen come to Eastern Europe.

Question Why did President Reagan believe it was necessary to engage the Soviet Union in another arms race in the 1980’s? Why did President Reagan believe it was necessary to engage the Soviet Union in another arms race in the 1980’s?

Answer 5 – 40 Reagan felt that massive spending on arms by the U.S.S.R. would lead it to finally collapse economically and end communism there. Reagan felt that massive spending on arms by the U.S.S.R. would lead it to finally collapse economically and end communism there.

Question The American military’s first role in Vietnam was… The American military’s first role in Vietnam was…

Answer 5 – 50 Sending military advisers to train the South Vietnamese to fight the Northern communists. Sending military advisers to train the South Vietnamese to fight the Northern communists.