...Write a 5-6 page paper in which you: 1. Identify at least two (2) major historical turning points in the period under discussion. 2. Analyze the impact of the two (2) or more major historical turning points selected on America’s current society, economy, politics, and culture. 3. Give at least two (2) reasons that Americans in the late 1930s wanted to stay out of the European conflict that became World War II. 4. Explain the role that women played to help win World War II. 5. Describe at least two civil rights breakthroughs after World War II that moved the cause of African-Americans forward. 6. Describe at least two (2) ways in which the Vietnam War brought political awareness to a new generation of young Americans. 7. Describe at least two (2) programs of President Johnson’s “Great Society” agenda that are still with us today. 8. Include at least two (2) references other than the textbook. At least one (1) of your sources must be obtained from the collection of databases accessible from the Learning Resources Center Web page. Generic encyclopedic Internet resources such as Wikipedia or Answers.com will not be considered acceptable. Your assignment must: Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name...
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...The Vietnam Conflict Introduction It is difficult to pinpoint the exact reasons why the U.S. became involved in the Vietnam Conflict. Perhaps one of the more convincing reasons can be attributed to the strong disdain most Americans had for Communism. The U.S. government feared that Communism, if not prevented, would spread throughout the nations. The federal government used President Eisenhower’s “domino theory,” which stated, “if one country in Southeast Asia collapsed to Communism then surrounding countries would soon fall” to rally support for their intentions to save Vietnam from Communism (Davidson, 2011, p. 839). The true reasons for U.S. involvement in the Vietnam Conflict is debatable, however one thing is clear, the war caused further division in a country already suffering from its own social issues. There had been conflict in the Vietnam long before the U.S. became involved in the conflict. Vietnam had been occupied by foreign countries for many years, and by 1940, Vietnam was under both French and Japanese rule. Ho Chi Minh, a Communist Vietnamese revolutionary leader, vowed to create a Vietnam that was independent of foreign rule (Davidson, 2011, p. 839). Ho Chi Minh established the Viet Minh whose main purpose was to liberate Vietnam from French and Japanese control. Northern Vietnam supported the Viet Minh efforts to create an independent Vietnam and joined forces with southern communist Vietcong to overthrow South Vietnam and unite Vietnam under one...
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...Whether fought at home or abroad every war is to impact all parties involved. Such example of staggering influence on one country’s culture is no more evident then in America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. Upon entering the war the USA’s government was convinced and assured the public of its confidence in very quick and consequences free resolution to their problem on the other side of the world. However, what it failed to predict which later was to prove crucial was the blowback that the war would have on the nation itself. The extent to which a superpower can be influenced by a smaller struggling and weapon lacking society has never been more evident and recorded than in America-Vietnamese case. The American culture has been shaken to its core. The following piece however aims to analyze and simplify those reasons due to which scars amongst society are being healed even now so many years since the war ended. Twenty five years have passed since the United States officially relinquished their involvement in Vietnam. Not since the Civil war had the country been so divided. Every American family was impacted, losing husbands, sons and daughters. Over fifty thousand Americans were killed and many more of those who returned suffered and still suffer deep physical and emotional scars . Many more veterans took their own lives, were treated as social outcasts or ended up on America’s streets among the homeless. The Vietnam conflict was a war whose origins many did not understand...
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...China had a communist government and it spread to Vietnam in 1975 because of the domino theory. The domino theory is the theory that a political event in one country will cause similar events in neighboring countries. Indo-China consisted of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. These countries were in jeopardy of falling to communism because of their location and the domino effect. The U.S. tried to contain communism in Europe and after 45 years, they ended up containing it. They contained it by keeping communism in one country and not letting it spread. It makes it easier to contain if it is in one country. Communism spread to Asia and the U.S. has to be try and contain...
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...1970’s” Tim Truster Professor Michael Curran 26 August, 2012 Abstract My history assignment 3 “World War II through the 1970’s” will identify two major historical turning points during this period and what impact they had on current society, economy, politics, and culture. It will also explain two reasons Americans in the late 1930’s wanted to stay out of the European conflict that became World War II. I will explain the role women played to help win World War II. I will describe two civil rights breakthroughs after World War II that moved the cause of African-Americans forward. An explanation to why the Vietnam War brought political awareness to a new generation of young Americans. Finally two programs under President Johnson’s “Great Society” agenda that are still with us today will be discussed. Two historical turning points during the period of World War II through the 1970’s I will discuss in my paper will be the ending of World War II by defeating Japan and the Civil Rights movement. World War II itself was a major turning point in history. In 1945, Japan was lightly defended against the American attack; huge firebombing of Japanese cities went unanswered. America estimated that an invasion of the Japanese home islands would cost 50,000 American casualties in the first phase of the attack. The battles at Iwo Jima and Okinawa demonstrated the extent to which Japanese soldiers would fight to avoid capitulation. President Truman was realizing he had power...
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...Vietnam War IP2 Alicia Stephens AIU Abstract In this paper it discusses the Vietnam War and some consequences of it. It also provides information about the war and the impact that it had on the United States, the reason for the war and the results of it. It also discusses the outcome weather it was beneficial or detrimental to the United States. It also describes details about the war and things that happened during this war/conflict. Vietnam War The Vietnam War was the longest most unpopular war in American History, The toll they paid wasn’t just monetary, it cost the people involved dearly, physically and mentally; causing suffering, sorrow and national turmoil because of bad press meant that Americans divided (History.com/Vietnam war). During the Vietnam War the U.S. forces were made up of draftees, whose average age was 19 years old. They were inexperienced and unwilling to fight; they would spend about a year in Vietnam and then return home. During the war over 200,000 were killed. Vietnam went from a major exporter of rice; to a country that couldn’t feed itself. Large areas of countryside were ruined. Many traps were left, and still are there in many cases (History.com/Vietnam War). Staggering influence on one country’s culture is no more evident than in America’s involvement upon entering the war the United States government were convinced and assured the public of its confidence in very quick and consequences free resolution to their problem...
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...The Vietnam War “Involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War” Aram Mebashar 1202122 January 24, 2015 International History of 20th Century and Beyond Instructor: Andrew Shaben 0 Involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War After the Second World War, fights, clashes, and conflicts had not finished around the world. The Soviet Union was communist and supporting other communist states. In the other hand, the United States was anti-communist and always supported countries, regions, and political parties fighting against communism. In Vietnam as other places a long war happened nearly a decade after the World War Two in 1954 between the North Vietnam communist regime with the support of China, Soviet Union, and other communist allies, against South Vietnam and its essential partner, the United States, also supported by other anti-communist allies. The war was long and costly for both sides, and it left many problems and disadvantages on the United States economy. This essay will argue the following three points, how the United States involved in the Vietnam War, the impact of the war especially on the United States with focus on economics, politics, and culture in both negative and positive aspects, and the US withdrawal of the war. Beginning with the involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War. Firstly, there were many different reasons of the American involvement in the war, but the main reason was prevention of communism spread and expansion...
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...1975, South Vietnam was under attack by the North Vietnamese (Document 3). The principle of the war was for Vietnam to decide between two types governments; Democracy or Communism. In the duration of the war, seventeen of the twenty years was fought by averse Americans. Yet, due to the insistence of the Executive Branch and the policy of Containment, the United States was conscripted into the war. This greatly impacted American foreign policy, and furthermore, the American society.United States involvement in the Vietnam War was based mostly on government insistence. United States President, Harry Truman, in his address to Congress about his Doctrine, claimed that "it must be the policy of the United States to support free people who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed...
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...Vietnam: To Draft or Not To Draft Debate Questions What is the role of the media during a war and was this role effectively fulfilled during the Vietnam War? Does the Selective Service Act address the need for an effective fighting military in the U.S.? How or how not? How would a draft affect morale of soldiers? Looking at the soldier’s experience in Vietnam, how would a draft today affect soldiers both during and after a modern conflict? If the U.S. enacted the draft today, what would the American public response be? Would this have a positive or negative impact on the U.S. overall? If a draft were reinstated today, how might domestic issues in the U.S. be influenced? How would domestic issues such as the economy, political leadership and contemporary American culture influence foreign policy either with or without a draft? Is an all-volunteer military a more effective fighting force? Why or why not? Is it an American’s patriotic duty to serve in the military during their lifetime? Would a powerful, drafted military force enhance or impair U.S. foreign relations? According to the Selective Service Act, men ages 18 to 26 must register. Should women be required to register as well? Enacting a draft is the best solution for engage American youth in domestic and foreign politics. How do veterans contribute to American society upon their return, and are their contributions defined by whether...
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...make future changes and developments in a society. I feel that without studying American history most industries would not be able to grow to meet the demands of modern day needs. Take for instance the computer industry and it’s progression in the last 40 years. My laptop that I’m writing this paper with has as much power, if not more than the computers used to put a man on the moon. That would not be possible if manufacturers did not look at ways to improve what they already have developed, which means they have to look back at what they have created in the past. Among other important reasons for studying American History would be subjects such as labor laws and social security. We as a society want to live better lives and improve the quality of our lives and so by looking at the past we can make changes in the future to benefit our future generations. In my view without studying history there would be no progressive future. I think many people have a negative view on studying history because they can’t seem to find a connection to how history relates or affects their lives. I believe that anyone can find something interesting to study in history. It’s just a matter of finding a way for them to connect with a subject on a personal or professional level. Maybe someone does not like American history but they might enjoy studying their own family history. Through that they might find that an ancestor had an important impact on American history. Another way a person might find...
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...through the 1970s United States was determined to stay out of European conflicts that would eventually lead to World War II. The period before Second World War, most European countries and the US was characterized by major tensions due to provocations of the countries allied to the German Nazis. The major turning point in the United States decision to join the Second World War against the Nazis was after a brutal attack by the Japanese in 1941. The Japanese forces on 7th December 1941 attacked and bombed the United States pacific fleet killing 2,403 Americans and injuring many others (Schultz, 2012). The Japanese at the same time attack major American positions in Philippines, Midway Islands and Guam as well as Malaysia and Hong Kong. These offensives are responsible for President Roosevelt declaration of war against Nazis with Hitler declaring the same against US making it a world war. The other turning point after the World War II was what was referred to as the Cuban crisis. This was a serious thirteen day confrontation between the United States’ administrations under J F Kennedy regime and the Cuban communist regime under Castro in October 1962. Cuba’s leader, Castro had given permission to the Soviet Union to have a few of its dangerous nuclear missiles in Cuba (Renn, 2012). This was a potential trigger to a nuclear war between the Soviet Union and the United States. The impact of the Japanese attack on the US at Pearl Harbor was the immediate entry of...
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...Running head: VIETNAM Vietnam: Its Impact and Lessons Learned . Prof. Carol Scott Contemporary International Problems – POL300 March 14, 2010 Vietnam: Its Impact and Lessons Learned Introduction The Vietnam War, also known as the Vietnam Conflict and the Second Indochina War to most was considered brutal and unwarranted; it did not accomplish anything and caused a massive death toll. This war was fought between the communist North Vietnam and the government of South Vietnam. Communist North Vietnam was supported by its communist allies while South Vietnam was supported by the United States and the other nations that were against communist. This was a war fought with the use of guerrilla warfare on hostile soil with an enemy, known as the Viet Cong. Guerrilla warfare is combat in which a small group of combatants use mobile military tactics in the form of ambushes and raids to combat a larger and less mobile formal army. The Viet Cong used anything at their disposal to stop the United States from changing their way of life/religion. The Viet Cong was a lightly armed South Vietnamese communist controlled coalition. This made it impossible for anyone to benefit from an invasion of this country. The warfare used played a major role in the outcome of this war. The United States entered the war to prevent the takeover of South Vietnam and the spread of communism in that area. The impact has placed a tremendous hardship on the returning soldiers and the...
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...Introduction: India and Vietnam are both Asian countries who are quite similar in a number of aspects, and as such it is important to examine and analyze how globalization and other factors have had an impact on them from a social, political, and economic perspective. During the late part of the 20th century, the International Monetary Fund and other organizations collaborated with countries that were struggling economically and offered financial assistance and the creation and implementation of policies. Globalization has had a significant impact on countries around the world; both positive and negative outcomes have resulted from various factors pertaining to globalization. Revolutions such as the Arab Spring uprisings have been influenced by aspects of globalization, such as the changing political sphere and the unstable economic market. Furthermore, the revolutions are more successful in contemporary times as opposed to fifty or one hundred years ago because globalization has provided the world with many comforts, such as the convenience individuals possess in the usage of technology—namely social networking websites. Therefore, it is important to analyze and examine the social, political, and economic changes that have been brought about by globalization, the changing global-politics, as well as social and economic issues that may have caused by or formed after military conflict. India and Vietnam are two countries that are quite similar in terms of GPD per capita rates...
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...reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.” Another turning point was the creation of The North Atlantic Treaty Organization also known as NATO was established by military alliance on April 4, 1949. Its quest was to develop a counterweight to Soviet armies. (Ganzel, 2010) “Original NATO members were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States” (P.1). World War II through the 1970s: Economy During the 70s, the Vietnam War had just concluded and the U.S. economy was hurting. The golden age is over and the U.S. entered a recession. Many problems were starting to pop up and it was overwhelming the...
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...Many people who worked closely with Johnson described him as being very self confident regarding domestic affairs, which is why he attempted to maintain the idea of the Great Society. However, he was described as being very anxious and fearful regarding foreign affairs, which is part of the reason why he acted to irrationally when making decisions about the war. He let his feelings of insecurity guide his political decisions, which left him concerned mostly with himself without regard to the people or to members of the government. Johnson’s attempt to preserve the Great Society while also trying to win a war against communism in Vietnam lead to decreased approval from the public and the government. Had Johnson thought rationally and accurately informed his advisers and America, he may have been able to maintain some credibility. Johnson’s presidency had the potential to be incredibly successful, as the economy was in a very good position at the start of his time in office, and his relationship with Congress allowed most of his Great Society programs to pass through. Johnson was unable to continue to persuade Congress, maintain a professional reputation among other members in the government, and uphold a trustworthy image to the people during the Vietnam War. These are all key elements of a successful presidency, which Johnson was unable to...
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