United States Bomb Its Way to Victory

¶ … United States Bomb its Way to Victory in Vietnam?

What was John F. Kennedy's "New Frontier" in American foreign policy? What approach did his administration take to the Third World?

The New Frontier policy was a plan to provide aid to foreign countries. He wanted to help Third World countries by increasing their levels of education and boost their economies thereby eventually making them self-sufficient.

Describe and analyze the circumstances and outcomes of the Kennedy administration's crises with Cuba.

The major issue between the United States and Cuba was the Cold War which divided the countries politically. Cuba, being Communist sided with the U.S.S.R. against the U.S. And allowed the U.S.S.R. To have nuclear missiles on their island, pointed at the U.S.

In what ways did Kennedy deepen U.S. involvement in Vietnam? Why did Kennedy believe U.S. engagement/influence in Vietnam was crucial to his foreign policy? How were Kennedy's attitudes toward Vietnam similar to former Republican President Eisenhower's attitudes?

By the summer of 1963, the situation in Vietnam had gotten worse and the Communists looked like they would take over the country. Therefore, he decided to begin sending troops into the country supposedly to improve the South Vietnamese ability to support itself. President Eisenhower believed in the domino theory of Communism, that if Asia fell to Communism, then the rest of the eastern world could fall to Communism which is the reason that Kennedy sent in troops to Vietnam.

4. How did U.S. troops and their experiences serving in Vietnam differ from those served in World War II?

The troops in Vietnam were better trained but they were also fighting an altogether different type of enemy, one who had no problem in using women and children as shields or human missiles against American soldiers.

5. How did President Johnson "Americanize" the war in Vietnam, and how effective was this strategy? What happened in the Gulf of Tonkin in 1964 (that created the rational for Johnson to escalate American military involvement in Vietnam)? Was the account Johnson gave to Congress/the American people regarding the incident in the Gulf of Tonkin a truthful account? Why is this so important? Did Congress ever declare war against Vietnam?

President Johnson "Americanized" the Vietnam War by introducing more troops into the country and limiting the use of Vietnamese troops. In the Gulf of Tonkin in 1964, Vietnamese weapons supposedly fired on American ships. This account has since proven to be false. It is important because Johnson, very well knowing the truth, intentionally misled the government and the American people. Congress never officially declared war on Vietnam.

6. In what ways was the American nation polarized by the war in Vietnam? What effect did the anti-war movement have on American society? Describe the ways in which 1968 was a year of upheaval (in the U.S., and elsewhere in the world)? How did the Vietnam War shape the election of 1968?