The Vietnam War and Changing U.S. Policies Review

The Vietnam War and Changing U.S. Policies Review US History/E. Napp Name: ______Activity 1: Matching 1. Vietnam had been ______into a Communist north and a non-Communist south during the Kent State University early years of the Cold War. When a civil war ______broke out, Eisenhower sent U.S. military advisers to help train South Vietnamese soldiers. 2. When Kennedy became president in 1961, he continued to support ______Vietnam. Hoping Drafted to prevent a Communist takeover, he increased ______the number of U.S. military advisers from 2,000 in 1961 to 16,000 in 1963. 3. In 1964, President Johnson concluded that South Vietnam’s government was in danger of losing control of the country to the ____ - South Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Vietnamese Communist guerrillas who had ______strong support from the North Vietnamese government. Johnson believed that the use of U.S. troops would stop the spread of communism in South Vietnam and the rest of Southeast Asia (“Domino Theory”). 4. In August 1964, two U.S. ships reported that they had been attacked by North Vietnamese gunboats in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of Hawks North Vietnam. Johnson asked Congress for a ______resolution increasing military aid to South Vietnam. Congress approved the ______. 5. As more young Americans were _____ and Divided sent to fight in Vietnam, many college students ______questioned Johnson’s war policy. 6. By 1966, the nation was sharply divided between “doves” (those who opposed the war) Vietcong and _____ (those favoring greater use of ______military power in Vietnam). 7. President Nixon announced that U.S. troops would gradually be withdrawn from Vietnam South while South Vietnamese troops were trained to ______carry on the war by themselves. Nixon called this strategy ______. 8. In 1970, news of the bombing of Cambodia led to protests on many college campuses. At Cease-Fire _____ in Ohio, four students were killed and ______several wounded when the National Guard opened fire to break up a peaceful demonstration. 9. In 1973, the United States and North Vietnam Communism agreed to a ______. ______10. In 1975, South Vietnam fell to ______and Vietnamization Vietnam was reunited. ______Activity 2: Matching 1. The _____ (the accumulation of all budget deficits stemming from debts owed to purchases War Powers Act of government bonds) jumped to a record ______figure, and inflation increased during and after the Vietnam War. 2. Many members of Congress regretted the Tonkin Gulf Resolution. To limit the Approval president’s power, Congress, in 1973, passed the ______. 3. The War Powers Act had the following provisions: within 48 hours of sending troops into combat, the president must inform Détente Congress of the reasons for the action and if ______troops fight for more than 90 days, the president must obtain Congress’ ______for continued fighting or bring the troops home. 4. President Nixon pursued a foreign policy known as _____ (a French word meaning Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (SALT) “relax”) with the Soviet Union. It aimed at ______reducing U.S.-Soviet tensions. 5. A major goal of détente was to limit the Grain Deal production of ______. The term, détente, ______means a relaxation of tensions. 6. During Nixon’s first term, U.S. and Soviet diplomats held the ______. The result was an National Debt important breakthrough in the arms race – ______fixed limits on intercontinental, or long-range, ballistic missiles (ICBMS) and antiballistic, or defensive, missiles (ABMs). 7. To ease a severe Soviet food shortage, Nixon offered (and Congress later approved) the sale Nuclear Weapons to the Soviets of $750 million worth of U.S. ______wheat. This _____ pleased the Soviet Union and American farmers alike. 8. During the 1960s, Mao’s Communist Chinese government began denouncing the Soviet Union. China As China grew more and more suspicious of the ______Soviet Union, Nixon thought it was time to establish normal relations with the ______(the official name of Communist China). 9. President Nixon visited _____ in 1972. This trip brought about a major shift in U.S. policy – Formally a lessening of support for anti-Communist ______Nationalist China on the island of Taiwan. 10. Although China and the United States soon exchanged performing troupes and athletic teams, they did not exchange ambassadors until People’s Republic of China 1979, when the United States ______recognized the People’s Republic of China. Activity 3: Multiple-Choice 1. Which situation was a result of the Vietnam 6. “I think it will be a safer world and a better War? world if we have a strong, healthy United States, (1) South Vietnam was able to maintain its Europe, Soviet Union, China, Japan, each noncommunist status. balancing the other, not playing one against the (2) The United States questioned its role as other, an even balance.” a police officer of the world. ~ Richard Nixon, 1972 (3) Richard Nixon was forced to resign the President Nixon put this idea into practice by presidency. (1) expanding economic relations with (4) The War Powers Act was repealed by communist nations Congress. (2) abandoning his policy of détente (3) declaring an end to the Korean War 2. One reason the United States became involved (4) ending collective security agreements in the Vietnam War was to (1) prevent the spread of communism in 7. The main purpose of the War Powers Act of Indochina 1973 was to (2) reduce French influence in Vietnam (1) expand the power of Congress to declare (3) stop China from seizing Vietnam war (4) support the government of North (2) limit the president’s ability to send Vietnam troops into combat abroad (3) allow people to vote on the issue of 3. The ratification of the 26th amendment, United States commitments overseas which lowered the voting age to 18, was a result (4) end the Vietnam War on favorable of the terms (1) participation of the United States in the Vietnam War 8. The war in Vietnam led Congress to pass the (2) fear of McCarthyism War Powers Act of 1973 in order to (3) reaction to the launching of Sputnik by (1) affirm United States support for the the Soviet Union United Nations (4) reporting of the Watergate scandal (2) strengthen the policy of détente (3) increase United States participation in 4. The easing of Cold War tensions between the international peacekeeping operations United States and the Soviet Union during the (4) assert the role of Congress in the 1970s was called commitment of troops overseas (1) containment (2) détente 9. President Richard Nixon’s visit to the (3) neutrality People’s Republic of China in 1972 was (4) isolationism significant because it (1) convinced the Chinese to abandon 5. President Richard Nixon supported the policy communism of détente as a way to (2) brought about the unification of Taiwan (1) reduce tensions between the United and Communist China States and the Soviet Union (3) reduced tensions between the United (2) introduce democratic elections to States and Communist China communist nations (4) decreased United States dependence on (3) encourage satellite nations to break their Chinese exports ties with the Soviet Union (4) undermine Soviet influence among nonaligned countries in Africa and Asia

Activity 4: Reading – July 01, 2011; Presidential Proclamation – 40th Anniversary of the 26th Amendment

“Forty years ago, the 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution took effect, lowering the universal voting age in America from 21 years to 18 years. Millions of young Americans were extended the right to vote, empowering more young people than ever before to help shape our country. On this anniversary, we remember the commitment of all those who fought for the right to vote and celebrate the contributions of young adults to our Nation.

The right to vote has been secured by generations of leaders over our history, from the women's groups of the early 20th century to the civil rights activists of the 1960s. For young people, the movement to lower America’s voting age took years of hard work and tough advocacy to make the dream a reality. Yet, once proposed in Congress in 1971, the 26th Amendment was ratified in the shortest time span of any Constitutional Amendment in American history.

In the midst of the Vietnam War, our Nation bestowed upon our young people the ability to change the status quo and entrusted them with a new voice in government. Today, young adults across America continue to exercise this enormous responsibility of citizenship. Countless young people are involved in the political process, dedicated to ensuring their voices are heard…

Young adults have been a driving force for change in the last century, bringing new ideas and high hopes to our national dialogue. Today, we remember the efforts of those who fought for their seat at the table, and we encourage coming generations to claim their place in our democracy.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 1, 2011, as the 40th Anniversary of the 26th Amendment. I call upon all Americans to participate in ceremonies and activities that honor young Americans, and those who have fought for freedom and justice in our country.” Questions: 1- What is President Obama commemorating (remembering or honoring)? ______2- What was the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution? ______3- How did the 26th Amendment change American society? ______4- What war was occurring when the Amendment was passed? ______5- Why did this war lead to this Amendment? ______6- Do you agree with this Amendment? ______7- Why do you agree with this Amendment? ______8- Identify another Amendment about voting. ______9- Identify an act associated with voting. ______10- Why does voting matter? ______Activity 5: Cartoon Analysis

Questions: Identify the President on the escalator. ______What does the President say? ______What is written on the escalator? ______What is the meaning of the political cartoon? ______How did the situation in the political cartoon divide American society? ______Why did some Americans support the war? ______Why did some Americans oppose the war? ______Do you agree with the supporters or protesters of the war? Explain your answer. ______Activity 5: Cartoon Analysis

Questions:

1- What does the individual sitting in the chair say? ______2- What is written on the young man’s poster? ______3- What is a “peacenik”? ______4- What is written on the newspaper? ______5- What is napalm? ______6- Why did the American army use napalm in Vietnam? ______7- How were the Vietnamese people affected by napalm? ______8- How does the encounter between the man in the chair and the young man reveal a division in American society? ______9- Why is the word “burn” used by the man in the chair? ______10- Why is the man’s use of the word “burn” by the cartoonist ironic (using a word to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning)? ______11- Do you believe this political cartoon was effective? ______12- Why do you believe this political cartoon was effective? ______