History 102 Discussion Questions

February 3, 2020

In answering these questions you need to provide specific evidence from the readings.

1. According to each U.S. president, why was America in Vietnam?  What is similar and what is different about their explanations?
   
2. Why was Vietnam considered important to the Americans?
   
3. What was the relationship of Vietnam to the wider Cold War?
   
4. According to Johnson, why does the U.S. commit troops to Vietnam?
   
5. What is the purpose of Nixon’s speech?  How does he differ from previous presidents?
   
6. What was the stalemate that Cronkite referred to?
   
7. What is the relationship of nationalism and the Cold War in the case of Vietnam?
   
8. What do you think was the “cost” of the war for the U.S.?  What was different for the United States about this war than previous wars?
    
9. How was the end of the war seen from the American perspective?