Question 1

The US refused to grant recognition to communist China in 1949 because

Accepted Answer

The US government was experiencing a strong wave of anticommunist sentiment domestically, which limited its options in terms of recognizing communist China. Many Americans saw communism as a threat to American ideals and democracy, and there was fear that recognizing communist China would be perceived as weakness or capitulation to the Soviet Union.

Question 2

NSC-68 committed the US to assist allied nations anywhere in the world that seemed threatened by Soviet aggression, and was based on the assumption that

Accepted Answer

NSC-68 was based on the assumption that the Soviet Union was engaged in a fanatical effort to seize control of governments wherever possible. The document outlined aggressive measures to contain Soviet aggression, including providing military aid to allied nations and increasing US military spending.

Question 3

Truman reacted to the North Korean invasion of South Korea as if it were

Accepted Answer

Truman viewed the North Korean invasion of South Korea as the opening battle of a third world war between the US and USSR. The Cold War was in full swing, and Truman saw the spread of communism as a direct threat to US national security. He believed that the North Korean invasion was not an isolated incident, but rather a part of a larger plan by the Soviet Union to extend their influence and control throughout the world. As a result, Truman authorized US military intervention in Korea, and the conflict became known as the Korean War.

Question 4

The Soviets

Accepted Answer

The Soviets approved the North Korean invasion but did not directly participate with troops or equipment.

Question 5

General MacArthur tried to teach North Korea that "aggression doesn't pay" by

Accepted Answer

This strategy was part of the United Nations' response during the Korean War. The Inchon landing, which took place on September 15, 1950, was a bold and risky amphibious invasion that resulted in a decisive victory for the UN forces. It allowed them to break North Korean supply lines and forced the North Korean army to retreat from their positions in South Korea. This operation is considered one of MacArthur's most significant military maneuvers and played a crucial role in the conflict.

Question 6

_______ was elected president on the strength of a pledge to go to Korea and end the fighting.

Accepted Answer

Harry Truman, George Marshall, and Douglas MacArthur were all involved in the Korean War in various capacities, but Eisenhower was not involved until after the war ended. However, during his presidential campaign in 1952, he made a promise to visit Korea and work to end the conflict, which may have helped him win the election.

Question 7

The legacy of the Korean War for American foreign policy was

Accepted Answer

The answer of The legacy of the Korean War for...

Question 8

Truman described American involvement in Korea as a police action

Accepted Answer

Truman described American involvement in Korea as a police action to maintain control over the situation without input from Congress.

Question 9

The US first became involved in Vietnam

Accepted Answer

The US first became involved in Vietnam through military aid to the French, who were trying to hold onto their colonies in Indochina. The US provided financial and military support to the French in hopes of preventing the spread of communism in Southeast Asia.

Question 10

The US saw Vietnam as strategically important because

Accepted Answer

The US saw Vietnam as strategically important because its fall to communism could begin a domino effect of communist takeovers in other Southeast Asian countries, which was a major concern during the Cold War. As part of their containment policy, the US believed it was necessary to stop the spread of communism and protect its allies in the region.

Question 11

The US

Accepted Answer

The US was compelled to support French military efforts in Vietnam due to geopolitical pressures, including concerns over the spread of communism in Southeast Asia and the desire to maintain strong alliances in Europe. French threats to reconsider their position in NATO if they did not receive American support for their colonial war in Indochina played a role in the US decision to back France.

Question 12

The first Vietnam War ended with

Accepted Answer

The first Vietnam War ended with the division of Vietnam into two zones: North Vietnam, controlled by the communist Vietminh government led by Ho Chi Minh, and South Vietnam, nominally controlled by the non-communist government of Bao Dai but actually controlled by the US-backed dictator Ngo Dinh Diem. This division was created at the Geneva Conference in 1954, which agreed to a ceasefire and the withdrawal of French colonial forces from the region.

Question 13

During the Eisenhower administration, the US intervened in _______ in an effort to drive out communism

Accepted Answer

During the Eisenhower administration, the US intervened in Guatemala (1954) to overthrow Jacobo Árbenz, in Iran (1953) to reinstall the Shah, and in Lebanon (1958) to stabilize the government against perceived communist threats, all as part of efforts to contain communism.

Question 14

The US felt that it could avoid French mistakes in Vietnam because

Accepted Answer

The US believed that it was different from France because it was not a colonial power and would not be resented by the Vietnamese people. The US saw itself as a liberation force, fighting to free the Vietnamese people from communism, rather than an occupying force.

Question 15

Ngo Dinh Diem, with full American support, refused to allow nationwide elections in Vietnam because

Accepted Answer

Diem, with American backing, refused to allow nationwide elections, primarily because it was widely anticipated that Ho Chi Minh, the communist leader in the North, would win, potentially leading to the unification of Vietnam under communist control. This was a significant concern during the Cold War era, where the U.S. aimed to prevent the spread of communism.

Question 16

The successes of Diem's government were undermined by

Accepted Answer

Diem's government had several successes, such as the implementation of roads, increased industrialization, and the creation of a stable currency. However, these successes were ultimately undermined by his messianic complex which left no room for opposition, his refusal to promote land reform to give Vietnamese villagers a better life, and his insistence on personally appointing provincial leaders, with no input from the people they governed. These actions created resentment among the Vietnamese people and contributed to the instability that ultimately led to the fall of Diem's government.

Question 17

Kennedy's Cold War strategy differed from Eisenhower's in that it focused on

Accepted Answer

Kennedy's Cold War strategy differed from Eisenhower's as he moved away from the policy of massive retaliation and focused on flexible response via counterinsurgency techniques. Kennedy believed in a more nuanced approach to the Cold War, which involved the use of military and economic aid to contain communism rather than just relying on the threat of nuclear weapons. Kennedy's approach was more tactical and focused on targeted interventions rather than full-scale military actions.

Question 18

The Kennedy administration chose Vietnam as the venue in which to take a stand over communism

Accepted Answer

The Kennedy administration's decision to escalate involvement in Vietnam was influenced by a desire to contain communism and prevent the domino effect, especially after experiencing setbacks in other regions. This was seen as an area where the U.S. could assert its power and ideology, rather than a calculated decision based on strategic value or the potential of turning a communist hot spot into an ally.

Question 19

The trigger for Kennedy to escalate the number of US troops in Vietnam was

Accepted Answer

During the early 1960s, the government of South Vietnam, led by President Ngo Dinh Diem, was facing a growing insurgency from the Vietcong, a communist guerrilla force. Diem's regime was increasingly seen as corrupt, oppressive, and disconnected from the predominantly Buddhist population. This led to a significant erosion of support for his government. The Vietcong capitalized on this discontent and stepped up their attacks against South Vietnamese and American advisors.
Kennedy, concerned about the spread of communism in Southeast Asia and the potential for a "domino effect" if South Vietnam fell to the communists, increased the number of military advisors and support personnel to assist the South Vietnamese government. This marked a significant escalation in the American military presence in Vietnam, setting the stage for further involvement that would continue and expand under his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson.

Question 20

-As vice-president, Lyndon Johnson, seen here in South Vietnam, went there in order to

Accepted Answer

Lyndon Johnson's visit to South Vietnam as vice-president was primarily to offer assurance of American support to the Diem regime, signaling the U.S. commitment to South Vietnam during the Cold War era.

Quiz 9: Vietnamthe Early Years