In preparation for the Paper 1 test on Nixon and Watergate please read my webpage with more detailed information regarding the topic and answer the following questions using significant details (names, phrases, events, etc.) from the readings and your class notes.
The Cover-up
1. Regardless of the outcome, should the President of the United States have a right to privacy in regards to the Oval Office tapes? Explain.
I think that the President should have some privacy in regards to the Oval Office. I think it would be okay if he kept a journal about his thoughts, but taping conversations is different. Once the Supreme court told Nixon to turn over the tapes and he didn't, this was against the law since it was evidence for the crime at that point.
2. Was President Nixon justified when he fired special prosecutor Archibald Cox? Explain.
No, I do not think that Nixon was justified when he fired special prosecutor Archibald Cox because Cox didn't do anything wrong. When Cox asked for tapes from the White House (to support Dean's testimony that the White house was covering Watergate up), Nixon refused to give up the tapes but offered a summary of the tapes. Cox said this was not good enough. Nixon had no reason to fire Cox except that he was not happy with him as a special prosecutor.
3. Was Nixon creating a Constitutional crisis by refusing to hand-over the tapes? Explain.
Yes, I think Nixon was creating a Constitutional crisis by refusing to hand-over the tapes because he was claiming that he had "executive privilege" and was above the law. This was not right and he had no reason to think that he could get away with it just because he was the President.
Closure
4. Why do you think the American public was so outraged by Watergate?
I think that the American public was so outraged by Watergate because it showed that even the President of our country can be corrupt. It showed that the public doesn't know everything that goes on in the White House and that maybe they shouldn't trust that the president is doing everything so truthfully. The hearings were televised, showing the public all of the details about the Watergate cover-up. The public couldn't believe that they had elected and re-elected a president who thought that they were above the law.
5. Do you think President Nixon should have resigned? Explain.
Yes I do think he should have resigned because if they had to forcibly remove him from office it would have caused a bigger scene that what had already happened. He had already cause so much trouble and such a bad reputation that he should resign knowing that what he did was wrong and was no longer seen as a good president.
6. Do you think President Nixon should have been prosecuted? Explain.
I think that President Nixon should have been prosecuted because even though he was the president, he still committed a crime. If this break in or refusing of handing over tapes happened with anyone else in the country, they would have been prosecuted since it is against the law. Nixon was not above the law and should have been treated under the laws.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Watergate: Nixon's Downfall
Read Chapter 32-2 in your online history textbook, The Americans.
1. How were the "plumbers" connected to President Nixon?
They were hired by Mitchell, the leader of the CRP(committee to reelect the president) to break into somewhere and see the Democrat's campaign ideas.
2. Who was the judge? Why did he hand out maximum sentences?
John Sirica was the judge. He handed out maximum sentences because he wanted to scare them into telling on others that were involved.
3. How were Mitchell and Dean connected to Nixon?
Mitchell was the attorney general and Dean was the presidential counsel. Mitchell ran the CRP-committee to reelect the president, which was the group that broke into the campaign headquarters.
4. How were Haldeman and Erlichman connected to Nixon?
Haldeman was the chief of staff and Ehrlichman was the chief domestic advisor.
5. What did the following men tell the Senate about Nixon?
a. Dean said that Nixon had been deeply involved in the cover-up.
b. Butterfield revealed that Nixon had taped nearly all of his presidential conversations.
6. Who was fired or forced to resign in the "massacre"?
Cox (special prosecutor) was fired, Attorney General Richardson resigned, and the deputy attorney general also was fired.
7. Why weren't investigators satisified with the transcripts?
They wanted unedited copies, but Nixon refused. Unedited transcripts would be more useful in finding evidence than edited ones. Even without the unedited tapes, they had enough evidence to charge Nixon with obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of congress for refusing to obey a congressional subpoena to release the tapes.
8. What did the tapes reveal?
The tapes had many gaps. The most important tape was six days after Watergate. There was a conversation between Nixon and Haldeman that showed that Nixon had known about the role of members of his administration in the burglary, and he had agreed to plan to cover it up.
9. Why did Vice President Spiro Agnew resign?
He was not involved with watergate. He was receiving illegal payments and bribes.
10. What did the House Judiciary Committee charge President Nixon with?
Obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of congress for refusing to obey a congressional subpoena to release the tapes.
11. How did the Watergate scandal create a constitutional crisis?
The whole country looked bad because the president had done something bad enough to have him impeached. Also, the executive branch had too much power and Nixon may have thought he could have gotten away with anything. This goes against the constitution.
1. How were the "plumbers" connected to President Nixon?
They were hired by Mitchell, the leader of the CRP(committee to reelect the president) to break into somewhere and see the Democrat's campaign ideas.
2. Who was the judge? Why did he hand out maximum sentences?
John Sirica was the judge. He handed out maximum sentences because he wanted to scare them into telling on others that were involved.
3. How were Mitchell and Dean connected to Nixon?
Mitchell was the attorney general and Dean was the presidential counsel. Mitchell ran the CRP-committee to reelect the president, which was the group that broke into the campaign headquarters.
4. How were Haldeman and Erlichman connected to Nixon?
Haldeman was the chief of staff and Ehrlichman was the chief domestic advisor.
5. What did the following men tell the Senate about Nixon?
a. Dean said that Nixon had been deeply involved in the cover-up.
b. Butterfield revealed that Nixon had taped nearly all of his presidential conversations.
6. Who was fired or forced to resign in the "massacre"?
Cox (special prosecutor) was fired, Attorney General Richardson resigned, and the deputy attorney general also was fired.
7. Why weren't investigators satisified with the transcripts?
They wanted unedited copies, but Nixon refused. Unedited transcripts would be more useful in finding evidence than edited ones. Even without the unedited tapes, they had enough evidence to charge Nixon with obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of congress for refusing to obey a congressional subpoena to release the tapes.
8. What did the tapes reveal?
The tapes had many gaps. The most important tape was six days after Watergate. There was a conversation between Nixon and Haldeman that showed that Nixon had known about the role of members of his administration in the burglary, and he had agreed to plan to cover it up.
9. Why did Vice President Spiro Agnew resign?
He was not involved with watergate. He was receiving illegal payments and bribes.
10. What did the House Judiciary Committee charge President Nixon with?
Obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of congress for refusing to obey a congressional subpoena to release the tapes.
11. How did the Watergate scandal create a constitutional crisis?
The whole country looked bad because the president had done something bad enough to have him impeached. Also, the executive branch had too much power and Nixon may have thought he could have gotten away with anything. This goes against the constitution.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Women Fight for Equality
Read Chapter 31-2 in your The Americans online textbook. (begins on page 982). As you read about the rise of a new women’s movement, take notes to explain how each of the following helped to create or advance the movement.
1. Experiences in the workplace
Women weren't offered the same job opportunities as men were. President Kennedy appointed the Presidential commission on the status of Women in 1961. They reported that women were paid less than men, even when doing the same jobs. Women weren't promoted to management positions, regardless of their education, experience and ability.
2. Experiences in social activism
When women started supporting equality for races and antiwar campaigns, they realized that there was even inequality between men and women. Women weren't given large roles in these movements.
3. "Consciousness raising"
Some women organized small discussion groups about their concerns. Women shared their lives with each other and discovered that their was sexism, discrimination based on gender.
4. Feminism
"The belief that women should have economic, political, and social equality with men." Women were realizing that they weren't being treated the same way as men.
5. Betty Friedan and The Feminine Mystique
Betty Friedan was not happy with her life despite the fact that she was "living the American dream," with a husband, children and a house in the suburbs. She asked other women if they felt the same way and they were, so she wrote a book called The Feminine Mystique which discussed sexism. This book sparked women's motivation and they started working together all over the country for change.
6. Civil Rights Act of 1964
Prohibited discrimination based on race, religion, national origin and gender. It also created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to handle discrimination claims.
7. National Organization for Women (NOW)-1966
Some women argued that the EEOC didn't adequately address women's grievances. 28 women created the NOW to pursue women's goals. They pushed for the creation of child care to take care of their children while they pursued jobs and education. They wanted to declare sex segregated job ads illegal, and tell employers that they couldn't refuse to hire women for traditionally male jobs.
8. Gloria Steinem and Ms. Magazine
Gloria Steinem, a journalist, political activist, and supporter of the women's liberation movement, showed the world her view on the issue. She created Ms. Magazine, designed to treat contemporary issues from a feminist perspective.
9. Congress
In 1972, congress passed a band on gender discrimination in any education program that got federal financial help, part of the Higher Education Act. Congress also expanded the powers of the EOCC and gave working parents a tax break for child care expenses.
10. Supreme Court
Roe v. Wade 1973-The supreme court ruled that women do have the right to choose an abortion during the first three months of pregnancy.
11. The Equal rights Amendment would have guaranteed equal rights under the law, regardless of gender. Who opposed this amendment? Why?
Some people opposed this amendment because they said that it would lead to drafting of women, the end of laws protecting homemakers, the end of a husband's responsibility to provide for his family, and same-sex marriages.
1. Experiences in the workplace
Women weren't offered the same job opportunities as men were. President Kennedy appointed the Presidential commission on the status of Women in 1961. They reported that women were paid less than men, even when doing the same jobs. Women weren't promoted to management positions, regardless of their education, experience and ability.
2. Experiences in social activism
When women started supporting equality for races and antiwar campaigns, they realized that there was even inequality between men and women. Women weren't given large roles in these movements.
3. "Consciousness raising"
Some women organized small discussion groups about their concerns. Women shared their lives with each other and discovered that their was sexism, discrimination based on gender.
4. Feminism
"The belief that women should have economic, political, and social equality with men." Women were realizing that they weren't being treated the same way as men.
5. Betty Friedan and The Feminine Mystique
Betty Friedan was not happy with her life despite the fact that she was "living the American dream," with a husband, children and a house in the suburbs. She asked other women if they felt the same way and they were, so she wrote a book called The Feminine Mystique which discussed sexism. This book sparked women's motivation and they started working together all over the country for change.
6. Civil Rights Act of 1964
Prohibited discrimination based on race, religion, national origin and gender. It also created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to handle discrimination claims.
7. National Organization for Women (NOW)-1966
Some women argued that the EEOC didn't adequately address women's grievances. 28 women created the NOW to pursue women's goals. They pushed for the creation of child care to take care of their children while they pursued jobs and education. They wanted to declare sex segregated job ads illegal, and tell employers that they couldn't refuse to hire women for traditionally male jobs.
8. Gloria Steinem and Ms. Magazine
Gloria Steinem, a journalist, political activist, and supporter of the women's liberation movement, showed the world her view on the issue. She created Ms. Magazine, designed to treat contemporary issues from a feminist perspective.
9. Congress
In 1972, congress passed a band on gender discrimination in any education program that got federal financial help, part of the Higher Education Act. Congress also expanded the powers of the EOCC and gave working parents a tax break for child care expenses.
10. Supreme Court
Roe v. Wade 1973-The supreme court ruled that women do have the right to choose an abortion during the first three months of pregnancy.
11. The Equal rights Amendment would have guaranteed equal rights under the law, regardless of gender. Who opposed this amendment? Why?
Some people opposed this amendment because they said that it would lead to drafting of women, the end of laws protecting homemakers, the end of a husband's responsibility to provide for his family, and same-sex marriages.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Why did the USA lose the Vietnam War?
Look back at your answers to your homework that was assigned on April 30, The U.S. struggles against the Communist in Vietnam.
Handout: Case Study 3: The Vietnam War
Why did the USA lose the Vietnam War?
The Americans did not lose purely for military reasons. There were other factors as well.
Write an explanation AND cite a source which shows the importance of the following six factors:
1. US military tactics in Vietnam (Source 36-Viet Cong tunnel complex)
The US military couldn't fight against the guerilla warfare style of the Veit Cong. The weren't used to how the Viet Cong didn't wear uniforms and made surprise attack. This was a big challenge for the US military because they usually fought in fields and didn't have to figure out who was a soldier and who was an innocent civilian (which led to many civilian deaths). Also, the US was drafting young, inexperienced soldiers who didn't know how to fight, especially against the Viet Cong.
2. The unpopularity of the South Vietnamese regime (Sources 41, 47)
Many Vietnamese people supported the communist Viet Cong just because they didn't want to support the Southern Vietnamese.
3. The experience of the Viet Cong and the inexperience of the American soldiers (source 37)
The American soldiers were drafted, young and inexperienced. Many of them didn't want to be fighting, and were not motivated at all. Some people in America were supporting the war because they believed in the Domino effect and that if Vietnam fell to communism, many other countries would. But the soldiers didn't necessarily believe this. Once soldiers became experienced (after a year), they were replaced with more inexperienced, drafted soldiers. The Viet Cong were very motivated because the Americans were invading their land and killing their people.
4. Domestic opposition to the war in the U.S. (Source 51)
Since this was the first televised war in the US, and the people were seeing exactly what was happening in Vietnam, they were against it. They saw that the effort to contain communism wasn't working, and they turned against it.
5. Chinese and Soviet support for the Viet Cong (Source 38)
China and the USSR were supplying the Viet Cong with weapons, which was a big advantage for them.
6. 'But did they really lose?' Summarize the argument put forward in Source 57, and your view on it.
Source 57 says that the Americans never really lost because they technically weren't defeated in a battle. The US was not present in Vietnam when the capital of South Vietnam fell to the Viet Cong. This was two years after the US military had left Vietnam. I agree with this source because the US didn't really fight and lose a war in Vietnam, they we're trying to stop the spread of communism and then decided it wasn't working so stopped fighting it.
Handout: Case Study 3: The Vietnam War
Why did the USA lose the Vietnam War?
The Americans did not lose purely for military reasons. There were other factors as well.
Write an explanation AND cite a source which shows the importance of the following six factors:
1. US military tactics in Vietnam (Source 36-Viet Cong tunnel complex)
The US military couldn't fight against the guerilla warfare style of the Veit Cong. The weren't used to how the Viet Cong didn't wear uniforms and made surprise attack. This was a big challenge for the US military because they usually fought in fields and didn't have to figure out who was a soldier and who was an innocent civilian (which led to many civilian deaths). Also, the US was drafting young, inexperienced soldiers who didn't know how to fight, especially against the Viet Cong.
2. The unpopularity of the South Vietnamese regime (Sources 41, 47)
Many Vietnamese people supported the communist Viet Cong just because they didn't want to support the Southern Vietnamese.
3. The experience of the Viet Cong and the inexperience of the American soldiers (source 37)
The American soldiers were drafted, young and inexperienced. Many of them didn't want to be fighting, and were not motivated at all. Some people in America were supporting the war because they believed in the Domino effect and that if Vietnam fell to communism, many other countries would. But the soldiers didn't necessarily believe this. Once soldiers became experienced (after a year), they were replaced with more inexperienced, drafted soldiers. The Viet Cong were very motivated because the Americans were invading their land and killing their people.
4. Domestic opposition to the war in the U.S. (Source 51)
Since this was the first televised war in the US, and the people were seeing exactly what was happening in Vietnam, they were against it. They saw that the effort to contain communism wasn't working, and they turned against it.
5. Chinese and Soviet support for the Viet Cong (Source 38)
China and the USSR were supplying the Viet Cong with weapons, which was a big advantage for them.
6. 'But did they really lose?' Summarize the argument put forward in Source 57, and your view on it.
Source 57 says that the Americans never really lost because they technically weren't defeated in a battle. The US was not present in Vietnam when the capital of South Vietnam fell to the Viet Cong. This was two years after the US military had left Vietnam. I agree with this source because the US didn't really fight and lose a war in Vietnam, they we're trying to stop the spread of communism and then decided it wasn't working so stopped fighting it.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Vietnam War Opposition
Using your knowledge gained from previous readings in the Vietnam War reading, complete the following.
You are an opponent of American involvement in Vietnam. Use the evidence in this chapter to begin formulating ideas to make a poster or a leaflet putting forward your views. You can include stories and images from pages 353-61. However, you must also include an explanation that will convince the supporters of containment that the policy is not working in Vietnam. OPTIONAL: Instead of opposing the war, you can support it. Feel free to make a COUNTER-ARGUMENT that the war is necessary to contain Communism.
1. Note all of the reasons why you feel the war in Vietnam is wrong.
-Drafting young inexperienced American soldiers is not helping the war effort. It is basically drafting them and most of them get killed within the first couple of months. The ones who survive and become experienced are soon replaced with more inexperienced soldiers.
-American soldiers are killing many Vietnamese civilians since they do not know for sure if they are involved with the Viet cong and prefer not to take chances. This is extremely harsh and violent. Evidence of this was the My Lai massacre, where the US soldiers killed a whole town because they were suspected to be working for the Viet cong.
-Obviously the attempt at containing communism is not working. Evidence of this is the Tet Offensive, where even after the US sent money and soldiers to Vietnam, the Viet cong was still able to organize a large offensive against the US embassy.
-The US was spending a lot of money on the war and it wasn't worth it.
-The Americans directly saw what was going on in Vietnam because it was the first televised war. People saw the harsh reality right in their homes.
2. Note what you are trying to achieve with this poster. (e.g. to convince people to write to their Congressmen to get the troops out.)
Pointing out all of the reasons the war is wrong should show readers that this is a war we do not want to be involved with anymore. I want to spread the unpopularity of the war because the more people against it, the more protest and hopefully actions will be made to stop the war.
3. List possible images for your poster. Think about: background (e.g. destroyed villages); the central image (e.g. picture of a young soldier); whether you will need words to explain your image.
I think it would be effective to show scenes of destroyed villages with an explanation of an event such as the My Lai massacre to educate people about the specifics if they didn't already know. Showing an image of a young soldier who has been wounded while fighting would show that they are drafting inexperienced young men who are not ready for this kind of war. I think the fewer words the better because visual posters appeal more to people than blocks of text. Pictures with short captions/explanations/overviews are the most effective.
4. List some possible slogans for your poster.
"Stop Involvement in Vietnam"
"No More Unnecessary Violence"
Headline: We are fighting for containment, not aiming to kill many innocent civilians.
You are an opponent of American involvement in Vietnam. Use the evidence in this chapter to begin formulating ideas to make a poster or a leaflet putting forward your views. You can include stories and images from pages 353-61. However, you must also include an explanation that will convince the supporters of containment that the policy is not working in Vietnam. OPTIONAL: Instead of opposing the war, you can support it. Feel free to make a COUNTER-ARGUMENT that the war is necessary to contain Communism.
1. Note all of the reasons why you feel the war in Vietnam is wrong.
-Drafting young inexperienced American soldiers is not helping the war effort. It is basically drafting them and most of them get killed within the first couple of months. The ones who survive and become experienced are soon replaced with more inexperienced soldiers.
-American soldiers are killing many Vietnamese civilians since they do not know for sure if they are involved with the Viet cong and prefer not to take chances. This is extremely harsh and violent. Evidence of this was the My Lai massacre, where the US soldiers killed a whole town because they were suspected to be working for the Viet cong.
-Obviously the attempt at containing communism is not working. Evidence of this is the Tet Offensive, where even after the US sent money and soldiers to Vietnam, the Viet cong was still able to organize a large offensive against the US embassy.
-The US was spending a lot of money on the war and it wasn't worth it.
-The Americans directly saw what was going on in Vietnam because it was the first televised war. People saw the harsh reality right in their homes.
2. Note what you are trying to achieve with this poster. (e.g. to convince people to write to their Congressmen to get the troops out.)
Pointing out all of the reasons the war is wrong should show readers that this is a war we do not want to be involved with anymore. I want to spread the unpopularity of the war because the more people against it, the more protest and hopefully actions will be made to stop the war.
3. List possible images for your poster. Think about: background (e.g. destroyed villages); the central image (e.g. picture of a young soldier); whether you will need words to explain your image.
I think it would be effective to show scenes of destroyed villages with an explanation of an event such as the My Lai massacre to educate people about the specifics if they didn't already know. Showing an image of a young soldier who has been wounded while fighting would show that they are drafting inexperienced young men who are not ready for this kind of war. I think the fewer words the better because visual posters appeal more to people than blocks of text. Pictures with short captions/explanations/overviews are the most effective.
4. List some possible slogans for your poster.
"Stop Involvement in Vietnam"
"No More Unnecessary Violence"
Headline: We are fighting for containment, not aiming to kill many innocent civilians.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Vietnam War Turning Points
Using your knowledge gained from previous readings in the Vietnam War reading, answer the following questions.
1. Why was the Tet Offensive a turning point? Explain your answer.
The Tet Offensive was a turning point in the war because it put things into perspective for the United States. They started to think about how the Vietcong communists could have been able to launch a major offensive that took them completely by surprise if the US had put so much money and so many soldiers into Vietnam. The war in Vietnam was not that popular to begin with, and this event really turned Americans against it.
2. Are Sources 51 and 52 making the same point about the My Lai Massacre?
I think they are not making the same point.
I think Source 51 is focusing on the side of the issue that deals with moral choices and what is humane. This source is making the point that what the US soldiers did in My Lai was wrong. He compared them to Nazi's since they were just slaughtering whole villages, and obviously the American soldiers didn't go there to to that. They went their to get rid of communism, but this is what they ended up doing.
Source 52 is saying that they weren't there to kill people, they were there to destroy communism. This source implies that to destroy communism, people must be killed and there is nothing wrong with that.
3. Why do you think it took 12 months for anyone to do anything about the massacre?
I think it took 12 months for someone to do something about the massacre because they wanted to let the issue settle for a while. If someone had said something too soon they might not have gotten the response they were looking for- an investigation.
4. Why was the massacre so shocking to the American public?
It was really clear now to the Americans that this was not right. There were so many civilians being killed for no reason other than that they "might" be involved with the Viet Cong. The American troops seemed to be straying from the goal of getting rid of communism, and instead, they were just being really violent.
1. Why was the Tet Offensive a turning point? Explain your answer.
The Tet Offensive was a turning point in the war because it put things into perspective for the United States. They started to think about how the Vietcong communists could have been able to launch a major offensive that took them completely by surprise if the US had put so much money and so many soldiers into Vietnam. The war in Vietnam was not that popular to begin with, and this event really turned Americans against it.
2. Are Sources 51 and 52 making the same point about the My Lai Massacre?
I think they are not making the same point.
I think Source 51 is focusing on the side of the issue that deals with moral choices and what is humane. This source is making the point that what the US soldiers did in My Lai was wrong. He compared them to Nazi's since they were just slaughtering whole villages, and obviously the American soldiers didn't go there to to that. They went their to get rid of communism, but this is what they ended up doing.
Source 52 is saying that they weren't there to kill people, they were there to destroy communism. This source implies that to destroy communism, people must be killed and there is nothing wrong with that.
3. Why do you think it took 12 months for anyone to do anything about the massacre?
I think it took 12 months for someone to do something about the massacre because they wanted to let the issue settle for a while. If someone had said something too soon they might not have gotten the response they were looking for- an investigation.
4. Why was the massacre so shocking to the American public?
It was really clear now to the Americans that this was not right. There were so many civilians being killed for no reason other than that they "might" be involved with the Viet Cong. The American troops seemed to be straying from the goal of getting rid of communism, and instead, they were just being really violent.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
The U.S. struggles against the Communist in Vietnam
You are to read pages 356-61 in your Vietnam War reading. Then, using the chart that was given to you in class, complete the following assignment. You are to copy and paste only questions 1 a - 1 b. & 2 a. - 2 h. to your blog.
Why was the US army unable to defeat the Communists in Vietnam?
Step 1: Gathering the evidence-fill out chart
Step 2: Using pages 356-61 in the Vietnam War Reading, make notes in columns 2 (US Army) and 4 (Viet Cong) to record how far each side had each quality.
Step 3: in each row of column 3, draw some scales to show which way the balance falls for this quality. Did the USA or the Viet Cong have the advantage?
1. Now think about the overall picture - how the strengths and weaknesses work together.
a) Were the armies finely balanced or was the balance strongly weighted to one side or the other?
The Viet Cong seemed to have the advantage in these areas: many good, committed soldiers, effective war tactics and support from the Vietnamese. The US had the advantage with technology, and supplies and equipment.
b) Which quality was most important in determining who won the war? Was one feature so important that being ahead in that area meant that other advantages or disadvantages did not matter?
I think that the fact that the Viet Cong had such advanced war tactics meant that they would win. The Guerilla warfare tired the US troops out. The Viet Cong had the advantage of knowing the territory and could use it as a means to get ahead in war.
Stage 3: Explaining your conclusions
The failure of the U.S. army to beat the Communists in Vietnam was the result of its own weaknesses and Viet Cong strengths.
2. Now write up your answer:
a. The U.S. weaknesses were that they weren't popular among the Vietnamese population. The soldiers were drafted, young, inexperienced and not motivated.
b. At the same time, the Communist strengths were that they were fighting Guerilla warfare which was an advantage over the Americans who didn't know the land. They also has many soldiers that could replace casualties. They had Vietnamese support.
c. The U.S. forces did have some successes. For example, they bombed the Ho Chi Minh trail that carried supplies to the Viet Cong. The Operation Rolling Thunder bombing was successful, the US bombed military and industrial targets in North Vietnam. They had chemical weapons that worked well but killed many civilians.
d. However, there were some major US failures as well. Examples of these were search and destroy missions were not effective because they killed many civilians. The US troops got caught in traps frequently, and they lost support from the Vietnamese population.
e. The Viet Cong had some major successes, such as Guerrilla warfare. They had a major advantage over the US inexperienced soldiers.
f. However, the Viet Cong also suffered defeats, for example the Tet offensive. The attacked many south Vietnam cities and the US embassy on the same day and lost many experienced fighters.
g. If I had to identify one major American weakness, it would be that the soldiers were young and inexperienced because this hurt them a lot. They drafted young men who frequently tried to avoid the draft by moving to canada. The Viet Cong had many experienced fighters that were extremely motivated.
h. The key Viet Cong strength was the Guerilla warfare because they were more effective fighters.
Why was the US army unable to defeat the Communists in Vietnam?
Step 1: Gathering the evidence-fill out chart
Step 2: Using pages 356-61 in the Vietnam War Reading, make notes in columns 2 (US Army) and 4 (Viet Cong) to record how far each side had each quality.
Step 3: in each row of column 3, draw some scales to show which way the balance falls for this quality. Did the USA or the Viet Cong have the advantage?
1. Now think about the overall picture - how the strengths and weaknesses work together.
a) Were the armies finely balanced or was the balance strongly weighted to one side or the other?
The Viet Cong seemed to have the advantage in these areas: many good, committed soldiers, effective war tactics and support from the Vietnamese. The US had the advantage with technology, and supplies and equipment.
b) Which quality was most important in determining who won the war? Was one feature so important that being ahead in that area meant that other advantages or disadvantages did not matter?
I think that the fact that the Viet Cong had such advanced war tactics meant that they would win. The Guerilla warfare tired the US troops out. The Viet Cong had the advantage of knowing the territory and could use it as a means to get ahead in war.
Stage 3: Explaining your conclusions
The failure of the U.S. army to beat the Communists in Vietnam was the result of its own weaknesses and Viet Cong strengths.
2. Now write up your answer:
a. The U.S. weaknesses were that they weren't popular among the Vietnamese population. The soldiers were drafted, young, inexperienced and not motivated.
b. At the same time, the Communist strengths were that they were fighting Guerilla warfare which was an advantage over the Americans who didn't know the land. They also has many soldiers that could replace casualties. They had Vietnamese support.
c. The U.S. forces did have some successes. For example, they bombed the Ho Chi Minh trail that carried supplies to the Viet Cong. The Operation Rolling Thunder bombing was successful, the US bombed military and industrial targets in North Vietnam. They had chemical weapons that worked well but killed many civilians.
d. However, there were some major US failures as well. Examples of these were search and destroy missions were not effective because they killed many civilians. The US troops got caught in traps frequently, and they lost support from the Vietnamese population.
e. The Viet Cong had some major successes, such as Guerrilla warfare. They had a major advantage over the US inexperienced soldiers.
f. However, the Viet Cong also suffered defeats, for example the Tet offensive. The attacked many south Vietnam cities and the US embassy on the same day and lost many experienced fighters.
g. If I had to identify one major American weakness, it would be that the soldiers were young and inexperienced because this hurt them a lot. They drafted young men who frequently tried to avoid the draft by moving to canada. The Viet Cong had many experienced fighters that were extremely motivated.
h. The key Viet Cong strength was the Guerilla warfare because they were more effective fighters.
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