John F. Kennedy/Vietnam War

JFK is from

Boston, Massachusetts

What was unusual about JFK being Irish Catholic?

They are not popular in office

Describe the election of 1960

Extremely close

How many years was JFK president?

2 years

JFK's attorney general was..

His brother Robert

JFK's 5 goals

1. Increase federal spending on education
2. Medicare and medicaid
3. Government action to end the recession
4. Containment
5. Land a man on the moon

Describe the Bay of Pigs Invasion

It was a disaster; the CIA blames Kennedy and vise versa, but Kennedy has to publicly take the blame

Where were Soviets missiles pointed at America located?

Cuba

Where were American missiles pointed at Soviets located?

Italy and Turkey

Explain what Kennedy enforces in the Cuban Missle Crisis

The naval quarantine of Cuba; all of the Russian ships that appeared to be carrying missiles to Cuba were stopped

What do the Soviets do in response to their ships being stopped?

They negotiate with Kennedy

What was the negotiation that Kennedy and the Soviets came to?

1. Soviets withdraw their missiles from Cuba
2. US promises not to invade Cuba
3. US secretly withdraw missiles from Turkey
4. Nuclear hotline established between Washington and Moscow

Why did the CMC seem like a win for JFK?

Because he secretly withdrew missiles from Turkey instead of publicly

Why do JFK and Jackie visit Dallas?

To work out issues in the Texas Democratic Party

Who is sworn president the day JFK dies?

Lyndon Johnson

Vietnam is in..

Southeast Asia

Who is Vietnam's ancient enemy?

China

In the 1880's, Vietnam was..

A French Colony

Why did the French want Vietnam in the 1880's?

Because of their huge rubber plantations and natural resources

Who kicked the French out and took over Vietnam?

The Japanese

Why did the Vietnamese start an armed resistance against the Japanese?

They wanted to be a free and independent country

Vietnam’s armed resistance against the French was..

Communist

Why does a major war blow up in Vietnam?

Because the French return after the Japanese leave (French vs. Viet Minh)

Why did the US ignore Ho Chi Minh when he asks for help?

Because he was communist

What did the US decide to do when the French and Viet Minh fought?

They send weapons and supplies to the French

Why do the French decide to leave Vietnam for the 2nd time?

The Viet Minh capture the French base at Dien Bein Phu

Describe the peace conference in Geneva, Switzerland

1. The French agree to leave Vietnam
2. Vietnam is temporarily divided between the communist north and non-communist south at the 17th parallel
3. By 1956 there would be elections to unify the country

Why was the Vietnam election cancelled?

Because everyone knew that Ho Chi Minh would win

Why did President Johnson take the Tonkin Gulf Incident to congress?

He wanted any reason to commit large American forces to Vietnam

Beginning of major American involvement in Vietnam combat

US Marines landing at Da Nang, South Vietnam

What does President Lyndon Johnson decide to do when becoming president?

Fight for Vietnam

What was the American goal in Vietnam and the outcome?

Prepare the south Vietnamese to defend themselves against the north. Unfortunately never happens

Tonkin Gulf Incident and Resolution

US warship reported that it had been attacked by North Viet. Navy boats; Congress gives Johnson full authority to send US forces into Vietnam

What happens when the US starts bombing North Vietnam?

North Vietnamese don’t surrender

The closest the US and Soviet Union came to war

Cuban missile crisis