America Enters the Vietnam Conflict

1. What European country controlled (ruled) Vietnam before, during and immediately following World War II?      
Before World War II Vietnam was controlled by the French, then they were conquered by the Japanese during the War. After the War the French tried to get Vietnam back but they were unsuccessful because Vietnam was supported by China. 
2. Who led the Viet Minh (anti-Japanese resistance group)?    
Ho Chi Minh was the leader of the Viet Minh.   
3. Which country helped France keep Vietnam and why?       
The United States tried to help France keep Vietnam because they saw them as puppets of Communist China, they didn't want Vietnam to become Communist as well. 
4. What is the Domino Theory?       
The Domino Theory was that Vietnam fell, then Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, and possibly India would fall to Communism. They wanted to isolate communism to those countries which it had already "infected". 
5. In 1955 the United States installed this man as the leader of the Republic of South Vietnam. Who was he and why was he placed into power?           
They put Ngo Dinh Diem in as leader of Republic of South Vietnam because he was bitterly anti-communist. He was ready to exile or persecute communists. 
6. What was the Ho Chi Minh Trail? How was it used?           
The Ho Chi Minh Trail was a system that went from North Vietnam to South Vietnam. It was used to provide the Viet Cong with materials, or arms. 
7. What was the Tonkin Gulf Resolution? What powers did it give President Johnson? 
The Tonkin Gulf Resolution was an act made by Congress that gave the President the power to do whatever it takes to achieve peace and security. 
8. Look at the timeline on page 256. Why is 1965 considered a "turning point" year for American involvement in Vietnam?               
1965 is considered as a turning point in the war because there was a large scale bombing of Vietnam done, and the first American combat troops touch Vietnam land at Da Nang. 
9. Why, according to Source 3 on page 255, were U.S. troops put into a difficult position in Vietnam?   
The U.S. troops were put in a difficult position in Vietnam because they could not tell who were and who was not a Vietcong sympathizer. They might have seemed to be a regular Vietnamese person but they could be a Vietcong, the same goes Vise-Versa vietcong being mistaken as regular Vietnamese citizen.