The U.S. Enters the Vietnam War

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.

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.

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.

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.