The Vietnam War
What was the primary purpose of U.S. involvement in Vietnam?
To prevent the spread of communism.
What was the main goal of the containment policy?
TO stop the spread of communism.
Who was Joseph McCarthy, and what was he known for?
A U.S. senator known for his aggressive investigations of alleged communists in the government.
What was the primary U.S. concern in Latin America during the Cold War?
The spread of communism close to home.
What was the guiding economic ideology of the US and USSR during the Cold War?
DOUBLE POINTS if you also explain what these ideologies are
US: Capitalism
USSR: Communism
Which U.S. president escalated the military presence in Vietnam significantly in the 1960s?
Lyndon B. Johnson
How does the Domino Theory relate the the concept of containment?
It furthered the fear of the spread of communism by saying that if one nation fell to communism, the surrounding nations would as well. This put more importance on preventing its spread.
What was the main impact of McCarthyism on American society?
It created a climate of hysterical fear and suspicion, leading to the blacklisting of many people in various professions.
What was the outcome of the Bay of Pigs invasion?
A failed U.S. attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist regime in Cuba.
Define "proxy war" and explain how it relates to containment:
Proxy War: a war in which powerful opposing nations support sides of third party conflict as stand-ins for fighting each other directly
Used in part to prevent spread of communism
Why did the US and South Vietnamese government fear democratic re-unification elections (planned for 1956 by the Geneva Accords)
They worried that Ho Chi Minh's popularity would result in the re-unifcation of Vietnam under a communist government.
FREE SPACE!!
FREE SPACE!!
Name at least 3 groups targeted by McCarthy:
Hollywood actors/directors, labor unionists, professors/teachers, social activists, immigrant from Eastern-Europe, etc.
What was the significance of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
It brought the U.S. and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war and highlighted the tensions of the Cold War.
What was the symbolic significance of the fall of the Berlin Wall?
Represented the beggining of the end of the USSR, represented the barriers between the Eastern and Western Blocs falling, etc.
How did the Vietnam War end?
The U.S. withdrew its troops, and Vietnam became a unified communist country after the victory of North Vietnam.
What was the Marshall Plan, and how did it relate to containment?
A U.S. program providing economic aid to Western European countries to help rebuild after WWII and prevent the spread of communism.
If someone was accused of having ties to the communist party, what were the likely outcomes?
Blacklisting, Loss of Employment, Public Humiliation, FBI Surveillance and Investigations, Legal Troubles, Social Ostracism, Damage to Personal Lives
Name at least 1 action of President Arbenz in Guatemala that concerned the US
Extending political rights to communists, redistribution of underdeveloped land (Decree 900)
What was the significance of Gorbachev's decision to stop giving Soviet military support to Communist governments in Eastern Europe?
Without Soviet military occupation, these nations pushed for independence and the movements were not able to be stopped, leading in part to the collapse of the USSR
What was the significance of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?
It gave President Johnson broad powers to use military force in Vietnam without a formal declaration of war.
Name the doctrine that was part of the containment strategy, aimed specifically at Greece and Turkey.
The Truman Doctrine
What was the outcome of the Army-McCarthy hearings?
McCarthy's tactics were exposed and discredited, leading to his decline in power. This marked the end of the period of McCarthyism and hysteria + fear
Because the CIA initiated a coup against a democratically elected leader and replaced him with an anti-communist military dictator.
Free space IF you tell the class your favorite fun fact that you learned during this unit!
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