1. Many neutral observers in Vietnam were critical of US policy. Explain why.
Many neutral observers in Vietnam were critical of US policy because their policy was a strange combination of determination and ignorance. First of all The US helped put Ho Chi Minh become powerful but when they realized what his real intentions were , the US began aiding the French. The U.S. believed that the Domino Theory would take effect through Asia. The Americans were determined to resist the further spread of Communism to Vietnam. Their ignorance was not shown until they began to to enforce their methods and policies. Ngo Dinh Diem took control of the Republic of South Vietnam in 1955 with the help of the Americans. The Americans believed he was anti-Communist. Diem treated the Vietnamese peasants with respect but he was a Christian and showed close to none respect for the Buddhist religion. Most peasants were Buddhist. His reign was also filled with corruption. Diem filled the government with family members and supporters and refused to hold elections. The Americans still supported Diem's regime with $1.6 billion only to have him overthrown by his own army leader. The government that followed was equally as bad but continued to be well supported by the Americans. These actions taken by the anti-Communist government caused support for the Communist-led National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam also known as the Viet Cong. The group intimidated the peasants who did not join. Soon the Viet Cong started a war with South Vietnam's anti-Communist government. By 1962 President Kennedy began sending military personnel to fight the Viet Cong. After Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, Lyndon Johnson took his place and sent 3500 US marines to aid in the fighting after the incident in the Gulf of Tolkin. Basically the Americans had fueled the start of a war which they intended to avoid.
2. Explain how US politicians would have defended their policies.
US politicians would have said they were doing the best thing for the region because they didn't know any better. The se politicians believed in the Domino Theory which was the idea if one asian country would fall to Communism then the rest would too inevitably making all of Asia Communistic. Vietnam was the first in line so they thought they should step in and help. They tried to put an anti-Communist into power to prevent the state from turning towards Communism. They would've said this didn't work because the leader was unpopular for his ways but he needed to be strict to prevent Communism from spreading. The politicians did not like his ways but then again like Dulles said, "we knew of now one better." The politicians supported Diem to stop Communism from spreading in any way he could because they feared if they let a country hold elections itself then the Communists would win.
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/political involvement)- Lyndon Johnson was more prepared to commit the Us to a full-scale conflict
(1954) Formation of South Vietnam (financial support)- vietnam was split into two different countries at the Geneva peace conference in 1954
(1964) Gulf of Tonkin Incident (military involvement)- North Vietnamese patrol boats opened fire on US ships
( 1962) Number of 'advisers' reaches over 11,500 (military involvement)- Kennedy sent military 'advisors' to Vietnam to fight against the Viet Cong gradually the number of advisors increased
( 1962) JFK sends military advisers (military involvement)- Kennedy sent military 'advisors' to Vietnam to fight against the Viet Cong
(1965) U.S. Marines land at Da Nang (military involvement)- this causes the Vietnam war to start and it was Lyndon Johnson's call after the Gulf of Tonkin incident
(1954) U.S. stops elections in Vietnam (political involvement)- The US prevented elections from taking place because they feared a Communist would win
(1963) U.S. supports South Vietnam government after army overthrow Diem (political involvement)- they might have been corrupt leaders but the US supported them because they were anti-communist
(1960-1962) Viet Cong attacks on U.S. and South Vietnam bases (military involvement)- Viet Cong attacked American air force and supply bases
(1960) Viet Cong formed (political involvement)- Viet Cong gain support from both the North and Southern Vietnamese and intimidated and threatened the people who did not join with violence
4. Choose two events that you think were critical in getting the U.S. involved in a war in Vietnam. Explain
your choice. Viet Cong formed because it intimidated and threatened the people who did not join with violence. They started a guerilla war with the South Vietnamese government making life in the country very unsafe. The Viet Cong go on to attack American air force and supply bases. This caused a growing tension and Kennedy began sending the first of many military personnel to come to Vietnam. The Gulf of Tonkin Incident because North Vietnamese patrol boats opened fire on US ships. This made the US furious so Congress passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which gave Johnson the power to take all necessary measures to prevent further aggression to achieve peace and security. It allowed Johnson to do exactly what he was prepared for. Johnson could now take the US into a full scale war if it was needed and later on he did exactly so.
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