1. What European country controlled (ruled) Vietnam before, during and immediately following World War II?
France controlled Vietnam before World War II and then Japan controlled it during World War II and then after World War II, the Viet Minh ruled the Northern half and then the whole country.
2. Who led the Viet Minh (anti-Japanese resistance group)?
Ho Chi Minh led the Viet Minh. He had lived in Britian, the USA, and France and studied communism in the USSR. He created the Indochinese Communist Party and had Vietnam fight for their independence.
3. Which country helped France keep Vietnam and why?
The United States helped France keep Vietnam because they saw the Viet Minh as puppets of Mao and the Chinese Communists and the USA was against communism so they would do anything to stop it.
4. What is the Domino Theory?
The Domino Theory is the spread of Communism through Asia by China and the USSR. It was called this because if Vietnam were to fall to Communism, so would a lot of other Asian countries.
5. In 1955 the United States installed this man as
the leader of the Republic of South Vietnam. Who was he and why was he
placed into power?
His name was Ngo Dinh Diem and he was placed into power because he was very anti-communist and would put any communist in jail and exile them. He was hated by the Vietnamese people and was corrupt and overthrown years later.
6. What was the Ho Chi Minh Trail? How was it used?
The Ho Chi Minh Trial was the 17th parallel border between North and South Vietnam. It was used to send reinforcements and ferry supplies to guerrilla fighters by the Viet Cong.
7. What was the Tonkin Gulf Resolution? What powers did it give President Johnson?
It was a resolution passed on reaction to North Vietnamese patrol boats opening fire on US ships in the Gulf of Tonkin. It gave President Johnson the power to take all necessary measures to prevent further aggression and achieve peace and security.
8. Look at the timeline on page 256. Why is 1965 considered a "turning point" year for American involvement in Vietnam?
1965 is considered a "turning point" year for American involvement in Vietnam because that year was the year that the US bombed Vietnam and and the first US combat troops enter Vietnam ashore and fight in the La Dreng Valley.
9. Why, according to Source 3 on page 255, were U.S. troops put into a difficult position in Vietnam?
US troops were put into a difficult position in Vietnam because the population did not hate the US. The majority of the peasants were angered at the Vietnamese government and did not want to help hurt and enemy they were not threatened by.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Chinese Communism
China turned to Communism in 1949 but the Communist Party in China was present from 1919. Before Communism took over China, there were civil wars during World War II against the Communists. The Communists eventually won in the end. China was officially declared Communist on October 1st, 1949. Mao Zedong was the Communist leader of the country at the time it was Communist and he pretty much converted the country to Communism; he started the communist revolution which took over China. China was also allies with the Soviet Union. There were four more communist leaders after Mao Zedong. To this day they are still part communist. There is some people who own businesses and things like that but Communism still rules the government even after all these generations.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Cold War Heats up in Asia
1. Who was Chiang Kai-shek?
He was the leader of Southern and Eastern China at the time and who fought against communism with nationalism.
2. Who was Mao Zedong?
He was the leader of Northern China and he spread communism.
3. How were the Communist able to take over China?
They had a weak military leadership and corrupt, abusive practices drove away the peasants. The nationalist government leader fled to Taiwan.
4. How did the State Department respond to critics that Truman's "Containment" policy didn't extend to Asia?
They thought it was a lame excuse and didn't believe it and thought that there were communist spies in the government.
5. How did Korea become a divided nation after World War II?
The communists defeated the Japanese in the North, thus turning it into communism while the Unites States defeated the Japanese in the South and turning that into democracy.
6. What is the importance of the Yalu River and what prompted the Chinese to enter the Korean War?
The Yalu River is the division point between Korea and China. The Chinese entered the Korean War because they wanted North Korea as a buffer Communist buffer state to protect their north-eastern provinces.
7. Who is General Douglas MacArthur and what did he want to do against China?
He is the General that commanded the soldiers in the Korean War on the U.S. side and drove the North Koreans out of South Korea. MacArthur wanted to use nuclear weapons against China.
8. Why did Truman relieve MacArthur from duty?
Truman relieved MacArthur from duty because he was going behind Truman's back and kept waging more war against the Chinese that didn't need to happen. He caused unnecessary war and wasn't listening to his boss.
9. How did the war end?
The War ended in a truce but Korea was still split in two. Both sides signed an armistice to end the war.
10. He is the current leader of North Korea and was also named the "Sexiest Man Alive" in 2012.
Kim Jong-Un
He was the leader of Southern and Eastern China at the time and who fought against communism with nationalism.
2. Who was Mao Zedong?
He was the leader of Northern China and he spread communism.
3. How were the Communist able to take over China?
They had a weak military leadership and corrupt, abusive practices drove away the peasants. The nationalist government leader fled to Taiwan.
4. How did the State Department respond to critics that Truman's "Containment" policy didn't extend to Asia?
They thought it was a lame excuse and didn't believe it and thought that there were communist spies in the government.
5. How did Korea become a divided nation after World War II?
The communists defeated the Japanese in the North, thus turning it into communism while the Unites States defeated the Japanese in the South and turning that into democracy.
6. What is the importance of the Yalu River and what prompted the Chinese to enter the Korean War?
The Yalu River is the division point between Korea and China. The Chinese entered the Korean War because they wanted North Korea as a buffer Communist buffer state to protect their north-eastern provinces.
7. Who is General Douglas MacArthur and what did he want to do against China?
He is the General that commanded the soldiers in the Korean War on the U.S. side and drove the North Koreans out of South Korea. MacArthur wanted to use nuclear weapons against China.
8. Why did Truman relieve MacArthur from duty?
Truman relieved MacArthur from duty because he was going behind Truman's back and kept waging more war against the Chinese that didn't need to happen. He caused unnecessary war and wasn't listening to his boss.
9. How did the war end?
The War ended in a truce but Korea was still split in two. Both sides signed an armistice to end the war.
10. He is the current leader of North Korea and was also named the "Sexiest Man Alive" in 2012.
Kim Jong-Un
Friday, February 1, 2013
The Berlin Blockade and Airlift
1. What is Source 37 (p. 75) saying about Josip Tito, leader of Yugoslavia?
What source 37 is saying about Josip Tito is that he is betraying communism and all the communists by accepting money from the U.S.
2. Why do you think Stalin was so hostile to Tito?
Stalin was so hostile to Tito because he betrayed the communists and the value of communism by taking money from the United States.
3. Look back at the map in Source 27 on page 71. How does the geographical position of Yugoslavia help to explain why Stalin did not take any direct action (such as sending in troops) against Tito?
Yugoslavia has a large coast and is far away from the U.S.S.R. so he wouldn't bother sending troops in because they could easily flee and they could fight back. They are also right by Italy.
4. Read Source 40 (p. 77). What reasons did the Soviet Union give for cutting off West Berlin?
The reasons the Soviet Union gave for cutting off West Berlin were because of "technical difficulties" and they believed it would force the Allies out of Berlin.
5. Why do you think the USA did not believe these were genuine reasons?
The USA did not believe these were genuine reasons because the Soviet's wanted Berlin and Germany all to themselves so they could control Eastern Europe.
6. How do Sources 41–43 differ in their interpretation of the blockade?
In source 43, it gives a lot more detail and tells how bad the people of Berlin were doing without supplies while in source 41, it doesn't mention any of that. It just mentions the blockade and how it was a "great achievement". Source 42 is just an opinion from Truman about how he was devoted to helping Berlin.
7. Which do you think is the most useful source for a historian studying the Berlin Blockade?
I think source 43 is more helpful because it gives some detail but still keeps on track about the Berlin Blockade and how serious it was. Also, how the U.S. helped Berlin.
8. Which source do you think gives the most reliable view of the blockade?
I think that source 44 gives the most reliable view of the blockade because it's an actual picture of what the U.S. was doing to help Berlin and it is most reliable because it is a real photograph from that time.
What source 37 is saying about Josip Tito is that he is betraying communism and all the communists by accepting money from the U.S.
2. Why do you think Stalin was so hostile to Tito?
Stalin was so hostile to Tito because he betrayed the communists and the value of communism by taking money from the United States.
3. Look back at the map in Source 27 on page 71. How does the geographical position of Yugoslavia help to explain why Stalin did not take any direct action (such as sending in troops) against Tito?
Yugoslavia has a large coast and is far away from the U.S.S.R. so he wouldn't bother sending troops in because they could easily flee and they could fight back. They are also right by Italy.
4. Read Source 40 (p. 77). What reasons did the Soviet Union give for cutting off West Berlin?
The reasons the Soviet Union gave for cutting off West Berlin were because of "technical difficulties" and they believed it would force the Allies out of Berlin.
5. Why do you think the USA did not believe these were genuine reasons?
The USA did not believe these were genuine reasons because the Soviet's wanted Berlin and Germany all to themselves so they could control Eastern Europe.
6. How do Sources 41–43 differ in their interpretation of the blockade?
In source 43, it gives a lot more detail and tells how bad the people of Berlin were doing without supplies while in source 41, it doesn't mention any of that. It just mentions the blockade and how it was a "great achievement". Source 42 is just an opinion from Truman about how he was devoted to helping Berlin.
7. Which do you think is the most useful source for a historian studying the Berlin Blockade?
I think source 43 is more helpful because it gives some detail but still keeps on track about the Berlin Blockade and how serious it was. Also, how the U.S. helped Berlin.
8. Which source do you think gives the most reliable view of the blockade?
I think that source 44 gives the most reliable view of the blockade because it's an actual picture of what the U.S. was doing to help Berlin and it is most reliable because it is a real photograph from that time.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Iron Curtain Separates Europe
1.
What is your overall impression of Source 26 (p. 70) and use extracts
from the source to support your view. (No fence sitting; you must choose
one but not both)
• a reasonable assessment of Stalin’s aims based on the facts
• an overreaction to Stalin’s actions based on fear of and prejudice towards the USSR?
I think that it is an overreaction on Britain's part because they do hate the Soviet Union and have always disliked them because of communism so that adds to the fact to why they so negatively look at them. They they that Stalin is looking to "eventually take over the whole world" but that was more of Hitlers plan and Stalin took a part in stopping Hitler so he probably doesn't want to take over the whole world.
2. Source 26 is a British source. Does it seem likely that similar documents were being produced by the American government?
Yes it seems likely because the U.S. also did not like the Soviet Union and communism so they would be against Stalin also and have these thoughts.
3. Study Source 27 (p. 71) and make a list of three different actions that Communists took to achieve power in eastern Europe. AND Explain how each factor helped.
1. They killed or kidnapped any other party that was against communism that ran and that helped them by getting rid of their opponents.
2. Communists destroyed the monarchy in Romania in 1947 which helped them take over that country.
3. Communists won by left-winged coalitions in many of the countries which led them to take over the whole Eastern side.
• a reasonable assessment of Stalin’s aims based on the facts
• an overreaction to Stalin’s actions based on fear of and prejudice towards the USSR?
I think that it is an overreaction on Britain's part because they do hate the Soviet Union and have always disliked them because of communism so that adds to the fact to why they so negatively look at them. They they that Stalin is looking to "eventually take over the whole world" but that was more of Hitlers plan and Stalin took a part in stopping Hitler so he probably doesn't want to take over the whole world.
2. Source 26 is a British source. Does it seem likely that similar documents were being produced by the American government?
Yes it seems likely because the U.S. also did not like the Soviet Union and communism so they would be against Stalin also and have these thoughts.
3. Study Source 27 (p. 71) and make a list of three different actions that Communists took to achieve power in eastern Europe. AND Explain how each factor helped.
1. They killed or kidnapped any other party that was against communism that ran and that helped them by getting rid of their opponents.
2. Communists destroyed the monarchy in Romania in 1947 which helped them take over that country.
3. Communists won by left-winged coalitions in many of the countries which led them to take over the whole Eastern side.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Origins of the Cold War: Yalta Conference
1. What month and year did the Yalta Conference place?
The Yalta Conference took place in February of 1945.
2. While the conference was taking place who were the Allies (Big Three) still fighting? Be specific. (Consider as well, what hadn't taken place yet that you've already studied.)
The Big Three allies that were still fighting while the conference was taking place were Russia, the Unites States, and Great Britain.
3. Why was Roosevelt anxious to make concessions to Stalin concerning the fate of postwar Germany?
Roosevelt was anxious to make concessions to Stalin concerning the fate of postwar Germany because Stalin had a bigger army and was a ruthless dictator. He could turn on the Unites States and change the whole game plan.
4. What decisions did Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin make at the Yalta Conference?
They divided Germany into four zones and over time all the zones would be brought together and reunited as Germany. Also, Stalin agreed to fight in the war against Japan and agreed to participate in an international conference in San Francisco.
The Yalta Conference took place in February of 1945.
2. While the conference was taking place who were the Allies (Big Three) still fighting? Be specific. (Consider as well, what hadn't taken place yet that you've already studied.)
The Big Three allies that were still fighting while the conference was taking place were Russia, the Unites States, and Great Britain.
3. Why was Roosevelt anxious to make concessions to Stalin concerning the fate of postwar Germany?
Roosevelt was anxious to make concessions to Stalin concerning the fate of postwar Germany because Stalin had a bigger army and was a ruthless dictator. He could turn on the Unites States and change the whole game plan.
4. What decisions did Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin make at the Yalta Conference?
They divided Germany into four zones and over time all the zones would be brought together and reunited as Germany. Also, Stalin agreed to fight in the war against Japan and agreed to participate in an international conference in San Francisco.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Nuclear Arms Race Since 1945 - part 2
1. Summarize the basic argument for and the basic argument against nuclear weapons.
The basic argument for nuclear weapons is that they help preserve the peace and U.S. security and also that deterrence continues to protect the U.S. from aggression. The basic argument against nuclear weapons is that their very existence threatens all of humanity and also that deterrence cannot be relied upon to preserve the safety of nations.
2. What is the difference between a strategic and a tactical nuclear weapon?
The difference between strategic nuclear weapons and tactical nuclear weapons is that strategic ones are long-range and can hit targets a lot farther away and tactical ones are short-range and are usually things like land mines.
3. What is nuclear proliferation?
Nuclear proliferation is the spread of nuclear weapons such as other countries creating nuclear weapons.
4. What role has the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty played in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons?
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty has played a role in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons by having nations not give any nuclear weapons or nuclear weapons technology to any non-nuclear weapons state and to reduce their nuclear weapons stock piles.
5. Explain Secretary of State Rice's high level of concern about the Russian nuclear arsenal. (See her quote on page 16 of your reading.)
Secretary of State Rice's high level of concern about the Russian nuclear arsenal is that they don't know if their facilities are well secured or not and there are many possibilities of what could happen to them.
6. How was the threat of terrorism changed thinking about nuclear weapons?
The threat of terrorism was changed thinking about nuclear weapons because there are many ways that a terrorist could get hold of a nuclear weapon or worse, create one and how they would use it, we really don't know. It is not likely that they would use military ways of using it. They would probably smuggle it into the U.S. and that is why are security has tightened but we are still vulnerable. Terrorists seem more scary today than ever because of nuclear weapons.
The basic argument for nuclear weapons is that they help preserve the peace and U.S. security and also that deterrence continues to protect the U.S. from aggression. The basic argument against nuclear weapons is that their very existence threatens all of humanity and also that deterrence cannot be relied upon to preserve the safety of nations.
2. What is the difference between a strategic and a tactical nuclear weapon?
The difference between strategic nuclear weapons and tactical nuclear weapons is that strategic ones are long-range and can hit targets a lot farther away and tactical ones are short-range and are usually things like land mines.
3. What is nuclear proliferation?
Nuclear proliferation is the spread of nuclear weapons such as other countries creating nuclear weapons.
4. What role has the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty played in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons?
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty has played a role in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons by having nations not give any nuclear weapons or nuclear weapons technology to any non-nuclear weapons state and to reduce their nuclear weapons stock piles.
5. Explain Secretary of State Rice's high level of concern about the Russian nuclear arsenal. (See her quote on page 16 of your reading.)
Secretary of State Rice's high level of concern about the Russian nuclear arsenal is that they don't know if their facilities are well secured or not and there are many possibilities of what could happen to them.
6. How was the threat of terrorism changed thinking about nuclear weapons?
The threat of terrorism was changed thinking about nuclear weapons because there are many ways that a terrorist could get hold of a nuclear weapon or worse, create one and how they would use it, we really don't know. It is not likely that they would use military ways of using it. They would probably smuggle it into the U.S. and that is why are security has tightened but we are still vulnerable. Terrorists seem more scary today than ever because of nuclear weapons.
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