1. Many neutral observers in Vietnam were critical of US policy. Explain why.
The U.S. mocked the Soviets when they held "free and unfettered" in Eastern Europe but the U.S. did the same thing in Veitnam.
2. Explain how US politicians would have defended their policies.
They Said they were keeping the free world from falling to the evils of Communism.
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.
(6) Assassination of JFK - Johnson becomes president No Direct Involvement
(2) Formation of South Vietnam Political Involment
(8) Gulf of Tonkin Incident Military Involvment escalted the problems
(7) Number of 'advisers' reaches over 11,500 Political Involvement
(4) JFK sends military advisers Political Involment
(9) U.S. Marines land at Da Nang Military Involvement Escalated the conflict
(10) U.S. stops elections in Vietnam Political Involvement
(5) U.S. supports South Vietnam government after army overthrow Diem Political Involvement
(3) Viet Cong attacks on U.S. and South Vietnam bases Military involement this increased U.S. involvement
(1) Viet Cong formed No Direct Involvement
4. Choose two events that you think were critical in getting the U.S. involved in a war in Vietnam. Explain
your choice.
The Two events that brought the U.S. into the conflict was The Viet Cong attacking South Veitnam and U.S. military bases and the Gulf of Tonkin incedents. These are the two main reasons because both were acts of aggression against the U.S. and it's ally and these actions would warrant military involvement.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
The Cuban Missile Crisis
1. Kennedy described Wednesday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 27 as the darkest days of the crisis. Use the information on page 350 to explain why.
Oct. 24 and Oct. 27 were the darkest days of the crisis because those were the days that the world almost broke out into war. Oct. 24 was when the Soviet ships almost ran the American blockade and almost came so close as to warrant shells to fly. Oct 27, was when an American U-2 spy plane was shot down in Cuban airspace and the president's advisors advised him to put together imediate military action.
2. Do you think that nuclear war was ever a possibility in this crisis?
I really don't think it was ever an option. Neither country wanted the entier destruction of the war on its hands. America and the U.S.S.R weren't stupid enough to think convetional warfare would demand a nuclear arsenal. The Soviets wanted to push the Americans and make them back down. The Americans wanted to show they wouldn't let the Soviets push them around.
3. Is Source 26 a Soviet or an American cartoon? Explain your answer by referring to the details in the cartoon.
I think it's an American cartoon for a few reasons. The first is that Khurshchev is sweating and that means his resolve in doing what he might is failing and therefore he is weak. The other reason is that J.F.K. isn't sweating and looks perfectly calm which means his resolve to do what must be done isn't wavering and this shows him as strong.
4. Using Source 27 list any evidence you can find for and against each of the explanations.
I think all the reasons could be possible except to defend cuba and to gain an upper hand in the arms race. The Soviets could be testing or making deals with the Americans. If the Americans backed down they would have to make some consceions to get the missles out of Cuba. This could also be a test because of the fact that putting nukes in America's backyard could be a test to trick them into attacking first and to give the Soviets a reason to fire. I don't think that it would be to defend Cuba because it really doesn't make any sence what so ever to defend a country with nukes when you could do it with conventional weapons. Also I don't think it was to get an upper hand in the arms race because America was so stupid to think at all it would be smart to start a nuclear war.
Oct. 24 and Oct. 27 were the darkest days of the crisis because those were the days that the world almost broke out into war. Oct. 24 was when the Soviet ships almost ran the American blockade and almost came so close as to warrant shells to fly. Oct 27, was when an American U-2 spy plane was shot down in Cuban airspace and the president's advisors advised him to put together imediate military action.
2. Do you think that nuclear war was ever a possibility in this crisis?
I really don't think it was ever an option. Neither country wanted the entier destruction of the war on its hands. America and the U.S.S.R weren't stupid enough to think convetional warfare would demand a nuclear arsenal. The Soviets wanted to push the Americans and make them back down. The Americans wanted to show they wouldn't let the Soviets push them around.
3. Is Source 26 a Soviet or an American cartoon? Explain your answer by referring to the details in the cartoon.
I think it's an American cartoon for a few reasons. The first is that Khurshchev is sweating and that means his resolve in doing what he might is failing and therefore he is weak. The other reason is that J.F.K. isn't sweating and looks perfectly calm which means his resolve to do what must be done isn't wavering and this shows him as strong.
4. Using Source 27 list any evidence you can find for and against each of the explanations.
I think all the reasons could be possible except to defend cuba and to gain an upper hand in the arms race. The Soviets could be testing or making deals with the Americans. If the Americans backed down they would have to make some consceions to get the missles out of Cuba. This could also be a test because of the fact that putting nukes in America's backyard could be a test to trick them into attacking first and to give the Soviets a reason to fire. I don't think that it would be to defend Cuba because it really doesn't make any sence what so ever to defend a country with nukes when you could do it with conventional weapons. Also I don't think it was to get an upper hand in the arms race because America was so stupid to think at all it would be smart to start a nuclear war.
Monday, April 26, 2010
The U.S. Attempts to Contain Cuba
1. Why was Cuba so important to the United States?
It's industry and most businesses were owned by Americans. Also it was extremely close to America and had been a long time ally.
2. Why do you think the Americans chose to equip Cuban exiles rather than invading themselves?
They didn't want to get their hands dirty and risk all out war with the Soviets backing the cubans. This way it was a cival war and one that only involves the people.
3. Why did the invasion fail?
The Cubans had modern weapons and armored veichles like tanks and armored personal carriers. The rebels didn't have these.
4. Compare Source 17 on page 345 (in the Arms Race.pdf reading) with Source 24 on page 348. Describe how the Soviet Union missiles on Cuba changed the Cold War balance of power.
In Source 17 on page 345 the U.S. had both long range and short range missles aimed at the Soviets while the Soviets didn't have either. In Source 24 on page 348 the Soviets had both long range and short range nukes pointed at America and could desimate the country without a problem.
It's industry and most businesses were owned by Americans. Also it was extremely close to America and had been a long time ally.
2. Why do you think the Americans chose to equip Cuban exiles rather than invading themselves?
They didn't want to get their hands dirty and risk all out war with the Soviets backing the cubans. This way it was a cival war and one that only involves the people.
3. Why did the invasion fail?
The Cubans had modern weapons and armored veichles like tanks and armored personal carriers. The rebels didn't have these.
4. Compare Source 17 on page 345 (in the Arms Race.pdf reading) with Source 24 on page 348. Describe how the Soviet Union missiles on Cuba changed the Cold War balance of power.
In Source 17 on page 345 the U.S. had both long range and short range missles aimed at the Soviets while the Soviets didn't have either. In Source 24 on page 348 the Soviets had both long range and short range nukes pointed at America and could desimate the country without a problem.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The American Dream in the 1950s
1. Baby Boom
This gave companies when the babies grew up a huge number of workers and this could boost the U.S. economy by allowing more work to be done. This also helped certain industries to go finacially and for more public schools to be opened.
2. Dr. Jonas Salk
He helped create the polio vaccine that helped kids not contract polio so that not many people were effected by the disease.
3. Interstate Highway System
This allowed people to get where they needed to go much faster. This also helped suburban communities start growing farther away from the cities.
4. Franchise
This made it so big companies could keep putting their businesses different places. Also it gave owners the right to use their parent companies name for their establishment.
5. In a paragraph, describe in detail how Americans spent their leisure time in the 1950s
Americans spent their leasure time in many different ways. Some activly played sports such as baseball, basketball, and football. Also people started going to more of the proffesional level games. American also started becoming avid readers.
This gave companies when the babies grew up a huge number of workers and this could boost the U.S. economy by allowing more work to be done. This also helped certain industries to go finacially and for more public schools to be opened.
2. Dr. Jonas Salk
He helped create the polio vaccine that helped kids not contract polio so that not many people were effected by the disease.
3. Interstate Highway System
This allowed people to get where they needed to go much faster. This also helped suburban communities start growing farther away from the cities.
4. Franchise
This made it so big companies could keep putting their businesses different places. Also it gave owners the right to use their parent companies name for their establishment.
5. In a paragraph, describe in detail how Americans spent their leisure time in the 1950s
Americans spent their leasure time in many different ways. Some activly played sports such as baseball, basketball, and football. Also people started going to more of the proffesional level games. American also started becoming avid readers.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
The Arms Race
1. Read Source 12. What methods do you think Dulles had in mind to 'liberate captive peoples' without a war?
I think he means to show the communist nations of the world how great Captalism is and how great democracy is. Basically I think he wants to fight a economic, political, and propaganda war but not a military war.
2. Look at Source 13. Would you agree that the Communist world was encircled? Explain your answer.
Yeah I do think the Communist world was encircled. This is because of the fact that almost on every side of the members of the warsaw pact their was a nation allied with Ameircan. Also because on basically on every side of the communist nations their was a hostile nation to their government policy.
3. Carefully examine the verticle timeline on page 343. Then look back at Source 12. Do you think the development of nuclear weapons was what Dulles might have had in mind?
I don't think Dulles meant using and devoloping nuclear weapons. This is because devoloping and using nuclear weapons would lead to war and killing many innocent people. This isn't a was of avoiding war. This is a way of starting war.
4. Look at Source 16. What is the Soviet cartoon saying about the U-2 plane?
The soviet cartoonist is saying the U-2 planes are letting the Americans spy of the soviets and it's helps them be the "nosy neighbor".
5. Read the Factfile on page 344. Explain why the USSR was so angry about the US spy flights.
The Americans were violating Soviet airspace with the spying flights. Also it was an act of espianage and the pilot could be exuctued by the Soviets. Also it was an act of aggression.
6. How would the USA justify this violation of Soviet territory?
They could have justified the flights because of the fact that the playing were only looking for information to protect the U.S. from Soviet nulcear attacks and was an example of homeland security to keep the American public safe from nuclear threats.
7. If the USSR had had U-2 planes, do you think it would have used them? Why?
I don't think the Soviets would have used spy planes if they had them. This is because they condemed the U.S. for using them and if they used them they would be hypocrits and would be shamed in front of the whole world.
8. Look at Source 17. Why do you think the USA had missiles based in Europe?
The U.S. had short range nuclear missles based in Europe for rapid responce. It took 30 minutes for an icbm launched from American soil to hit the soviets but only 5 minutes to hit the soviets if they fired a short range nuke.
9. Define the term 'nuclear deterrent' in not more than 20 words.
Nuclear Deterrent is when both sides had nukes and know if they fire nukes they'll be killed too.
I think he means to show the communist nations of the world how great Captalism is and how great democracy is. Basically I think he wants to fight a economic, political, and propaganda war but not a military war.
2. Look at Source 13. Would you agree that the Communist world was encircled? Explain your answer.
Yeah I do think the Communist world was encircled. This is because of the fact that almost on every side of the members of the warsaw pact their was a nation allied with Ameircan. Also because on basically on every side of the communist nations their was a hostile nation to their government policy.
3. Carefully examine the verticle timeline on page 343. Then look back at Source 12. Do you think the development of nuclear weapons was what Dulles might have had in mind?
I don't think Dulles meant using and devoloping nuclear weapons. This is because devoloping and using nuclear weapons would lead to war and killing many innocent people. This isn't a was of avoiding war. This is a way of starting war.
4. Look at Source 16. What is the Soviet cartoon saying about the U-2 plane?
The soviet cartoonist is saying the U-2 planes are letting the Americans spy of the soviets and it's helps them be the "nosy neighbor".
5. Read the Factfile on page 344. Explain why the USSR was so angry about the US spy flights.
The Americans were violating Soviet airspace with the spying flights. Also it was an act of espianage and the pilot could be exuctued by the Soviets. Also it was an act of aggression.
6. How would the USA justify this violation of Soviet territory?
They could have justified the flights because of the fact that the playing were only looking for information to protect the U.S. from Soviet nulcear attacks and was an example of homeland security to keep the American public safe from nuclear threats.
7. If the USSR had had U-2 planes, do you think it would have used them? Why?
I don't think the Soviets would have used spy planes if they had them. This is because they condemed the U.S. for using them and if they used them they would be hypocrits and would be shamed in front of the whole world.
8. Look at Source 17. Why do you think the USA had missiles based in Europe?
The U.S. had short range nuclear missles based in Europe for rapid responce. It took 30 minutes for an icbm launched from American soil to hit the soviets but only 5 minutes to hit the soviets if they fired a short range nuke.
9. Define the term 'nuclear deterrent' in not more than 20 words.
Nuclear Deterrent is when both sides had nukes and know if they fire nukes they'll be killed too.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Eisenhower & The Cold War
How did the United States react to the following 7 events, and why?
1. The Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb in 1949.
The U.S. reacted with outrage and fear because niow they weren't the only superpower with nuclear weapons and their enemy had nuclear weapons.
2. In 1951, the Iranian prime minister placed the oil industry in Iran under the Iranian government’s control.
This made the British people stop buying Iranian oil and the American people feared that they would turn to the Soviets for help.
3. The Guatemalan head of government gave American-owned land in Guatemala to peasants.
The American government feared their were Guatemalan communist sympathisers in the government and that another country would go commy and become hostile to the U.S.
4. In 1956, Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt and occupied the Suez Canal.
This would be seen as an act of agression to the Soviets who were still supporting Egypt while the Allies weren't and this would anger the Soviets and possibly make them go to war.
5. Soviet tanks invaded Hungary and fired on protesters in 1956.
When the Americans didn't respond they failed the truman doctirne and this made the U.S. seem horibble.
6. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik.
This made the Americans think the Soviets could put nuke launchers into space and bomb them from space.
7. In 1960, the Soviet Union brought down an American U-2 piloted by Francis Gary Powers.
This proved that the Soviets knew of the American C.I.A. intelligence missions and this showed that not even at high altitude were the plains safe.
1. The Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb in 1949.
The U.S. reacted with outrage and fear because niow they weren't the only superpower with nuclear weapons and their enemy had nuclear weapons.
2. In 1951, the Iranian prime minister placed the oil industry in Iran under the Iranian government’s control.
This made the British people stop buying Iranian oil and the American people feared that they would turn to the Soviets for help.
3. The Guatemalan head of government gave American-owned land in Guatemala to peasants.
The American government feared their were Guatemalan communist sympathisers in the government and that another country would go commy and become hostile to the U.S.
4. In 1956, Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt and occupied the Suez Canal.
This would be seen as an act of agression to the Soviets who were still supporting Egypt while the Allies weren't and this would anger the Soviets and possibly make them go to war.
5. Soviet tanks invaded Hungary and fired on protesters in 1956.
When the Americans didn't respond they failed the truman doctirne and this made the U.S. seem horibble.
6. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik.
This made the Americans think the Soviets could put nuke launchers into space and bomb them from space.
7. In 1960, the Soviet Union brought down an American U-2 piloted by Francis Gary Powers.
This proved that the Soviets knew of the American C.I.A. intelligence missions and this showed that not even at high altitude were the plains safe.
Monday, April 5, 2010
The Red Scare (1950s).
For each term or name, write a concise sentence or two explaining its significance.
1. HUAC
This agency investigated the movie industry to see if their was communist propaganda being placed subvertly in the movies.
2. Blacklist
This was a list of people who the government thought were communist and this ruined their careers in the film industry and ruined their lifes in general.
3. Alger Hiss
He was a supposid Soviet spy and was accused by a former communist spy for spying for the Soviets and ws convicted of lying under oath about writing the documents.
4. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg
Were two people convicted of helping leak the secrets about the American Atomic Bomb to the Soviets and this helped the Soviets make an atomic bomb a few years before they would have otherwise. They were executed 3 years after they were convicted.
5. Joseph McCarthy
He was a republican senator who lead the anti-communist movement and was the most well known anti-communist. He started the idea of communists taking over the government to help him get reelected.
6. McCarthyism
This was the idea of targeting people of being communists with unnsupported accusations.
7. In a paragraph, describe the motivations and actions of Joseph McCarthy during the 1950s. What prompted his actions? What did he do? What happened as a result of his actions?
Joseph McCarthy started his accusations of people being communist to help him be elected back into his senate seat. He targeted many inocent people of being communist with hazy acusitions and accustions unsupported with facts. Republicans didn't stop him because they thought he would be a good presidential candidate becuase he was starcly anticommunist in a time when America was in the second Red Scare. His actions resulted in bringing shame in himself and his party when he accused the U.S. army of being communist and his methods angered the citizens and this lost him public support. In the end his actions led to his own downfall and died a few years later broken from his mistakes.
1. HUAC
This agency investigated the movie industry to see if their was communist propaganda being placed subvertly in the movies.
2. Blacklist
This was a list of people who the government thought were communist and this ruined their careers in the film industry and ruined their lifes in general.
3. Alger Hiss
He was a supposid Soviet spy and was accused by a former communist spy for spying for the Soviets and ws convicted of lying under oath about writing the documents.
4. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg
Were two people convicted of helping leak the secrets about the American Atomic Bomb to the Soviets and this helped the Soviets make an atomic bomb a few years before they would have otherwise. They were executed 3 years after they were convicted.
5. Joseph McCarthy
He was a republican senator who lead the anti-communist movement and was the most well known anti-communist. He started the idea of communists taking over the government to help him get reelected.
6. McCarthyism
This was the idea of targeting people of being communists with unnsupported accusations.
7. In a paragraph, describe the motivations and actions of Joseph McCarthy during the 1950s. What prompted his actions? What did he do? What happened as a result of his actions?
Joseph McCarthy started his accusations of people being communist to help him be elected back into his senate seat. He targeted many inocent people of being communist with hazy acusitions and accustions unsupported with facts. Republicans didn't stop him because they thought he would be a good presidential candidate becuase he was starcly anticommunist in a time when America was in the second Red Scare. His actions resulted in bringing shame in himself and his party when he accused the U.S. army of being communist and his methods angered the citizens and this lost him public support. In the end his actions led to his own downfall and died a few years later broken from his mistakes.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Korean War Lessons
Dear Mr. President,
Many things can be learned from the Korean War. The first is it is an example of the U.S.'s goal to stop the spread of communism and to stop the spreading of Soviet power. The South Koreans were our allies because they hated communism. All we had to do to become involved was invoke the Truman Doctrine from 1947. This helped us win support in the U.N. We were able to get 17 other nations to help us support our operations in South Korea. Our forces were the majoirty of the force but that doesn't matter. We were able to trick the Soviets from vetoing the proposition by refusing to allow Communist China to vote and therefore this pissed the Soviets off so much they left the U.N. before the vote. This is an example of how stupid the communists are. We achieved our original goal. We liberated South Korea from the Communists. It was a stupid mistake to attack into North Korea and risk agitating China like we did to rid Korea of communists. MacArthur shouldn't have been allowed to invade. He overexurted our resources and this allowed the enemy to stike us where we were weak and push us backwards. He was an idiot and his actions caused the chinese to invade to help the North Koreans. Also he underestimated the Chinese and this cost us supplies and lives. Truman's descision to relieve MacArthur of his command was a good one because if MacArthur kept going he would have cost the allied forces more lives, money, and supplies. Also he could have started World War III if the Soviets became involved in the fighting. The lives lost in the war were immense for the size of the war. 1.4 million people were lost in the fighting military forces and civilians included. The war was worth the cost put on human life because this way not all of Asia was communist and if we needed a staging area to invade communist Asia we could land troops in friendly South Korea.
Many things can be learned from the Korean War. The first is it is an example of the U.S.'s goal to stop the spread of communism and to stop the spreading of Soviet power. The South Koreans were our allies because they hated communism. All we had to do to become involved was invoke the Truman Doctrine from 1947. This helped us win support in the U.N. We were able to get 17 other nations to help us support our operations in South Korea. Our forces were the majoirty of the force but that doesn't matter. We were able to trick the Soviets from vetoing the proposition by refusing to allow Communist China to vote and therefore this pissed the Soviets off so much they left the U.N. before the vote. This is an example of how stupid the communists are. We achieved our original goal. We liberated South Korea from the Communists. It was a stupid mistake to attack into North Korea and risk agitating China like we did to rid Korea of communists. MacArthur shouldn't have been allowed to invade. He overexurted our resources and this allowed the enemy to stike us where we were weak and push us backwards. He was an idiot and his actions caused the chinese to invade to help the North Koreans. Also he underestimated the Chinese and this cost us supplies and lives. Truman's descision to relieve MacArthur of his command was a good one because if MacArthur kept going he would have cost the allied forces more lives, money, and supplies. Also he could have started World War III if the Soviets became involved in the fighting. The lives lost in the war were immense for the size of the war. 1.4 million people were lost in the fighting military forces and civilians included. The war was worth the cost put on human life because this way not all of Asia was communist and if we needed a staging area to invade communist Asia we could land troops in friendly South Korea.
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