Cold War at Its Height Assignment and Quiz

In what way did the political situation in Vietnam resemble that of Korea in the 1950s?

Both Vietnam and Korea were divided into a Communist North and a non-Communist South.

The Korean War began in 1950 when the

Communist North attacked the non-Communist South.

"If we cannot protect democracy in the cold war, we shall win in a hot war." - Syngman Rhee, President of South Korea, 1950 What did President Rhee mean by this statement?

He was willing to risk war with North Korea to protect democracy.

The partition of Korea into two zones dominates the political and economic life of the peninsula. The division of Korea at the 38th parallel has turned into a hard and fast boundary which cuts off all intercourse between the northern and southern halves of the country, except for the exchange of mail and the transfer of surplus electric power from North to South Korea. What does the passage indicate about the partition of Korea?

It divided the economy and the land.

Read this passage about the partition of Korea. "The partition of Korea into two zones dominates the political and economic life of the peninsular. The division of Korea at the 38th parallel has turned into a hard and fast boundary which cuts off all intercourse between the northern and southern halves of the country, except for the exchange of mail and the transfer of surplus electric power from North to South Korea." -The Situation in Korea, 1947 Report The passage says that the partition of Korea

divided the country, both in its political and economic life.

The two superpowers that opposed each other during the Cold War were the United States and

the Soviet Union

The arms race meant that once the United States built hydrogen bombs,

the Soviet Union built them too.

Tensions rose as the two opposing superpowers competed for

weapons.

Using what you learned in the lesson and the documents you read in the assignment, answer this question: How did the Cold War lead to conflict?

The Cold War led to conflict, because the USSR and the US distrusted each other. They were both stocking up their military weapons, to prepare a war against each other. The USSR was trying to spread communism which spread to Vietnam and Korea. Luckily, the US was able to intervene and Vietnam and Korea were both split in half.

The line graph shows US defense spending from 1946 to 1968. Which of the following statements best explains this graph?

US defense spending declined after World War II but increased as the Cold War heated up.

Which of the following resulted from the Vietnam War? Select all that apply.

Vietnam is united under a Communist government. Support for the containment of Communism lessens. Anti-government feelings spread in the United States. Communism spreads to Laos and Cambodia.

In which way did the Vietnam War and the Korean War end differently?

Vietnam was united, while Korea remained divided.

It is not an issue of dictatorship. The American Republics have lived with dictators before. If this were his only fault, they could live with Mr. Castro. The foremost objection of the States of the Americas to the Castro régime is not because it is revolutionary, not because it is socialistic, not because it is dictatorial, not even because Mr. Castro perverted a noble revolution in the interests of a squalid totalitarianism. It is because he has aided and abetted an invasion of this hemisphere-an invasion just at the time when the hemisphere is making a new and unprecedented effort for economic progress and social reform. -Adlai Stevenson, US Ambassador to the UN, October 23, 1962 According to the passage, why was the US government taking action against Cuba?

because Castro took action and supported actions that put the Western world in danger

For the future of peace, precipitate withdrawal would thus be a disaster of immense magnitude. -A nation cannot remain great if it betrays its allied and lets down its friends. -Our defeat and humiliation in South Vietnam without question would promote recklessness in the councils of those great powers who have not yet abandoned their goals of world conquest. -This would spark violence wherever our commitments help maintain the peace-in the Middle East, in Berlin, eventually even in the Western Hemisphere. Ultimately, this would cost more lives. It would not bring peace; it would bring more war. For these reasons, I rejected the recommendation that I should end the war by immediately withdrawing all of our forces. - "Address to the Nation on the War in Vietnam," President Richard M. Nixon 1969 What does President Nixon imply about the United States in this speech?

Its defeat in Vietnam would result in increased conflict elsewhere.

The Korean War began when _________ invaded in 1950. The country labeled "A" is ____________. It entered the war on the side of __________. The dividing line between North Korea and South Korea on the map is located close to the _____ parallel.

North Korean forces China North Korea 38th

Read the passage from a speech on Vietnam given by President Nixon in 1969. "For the future of peace, precipitate withdrawal would thus be a disaster of immense magnitude. —A nation cannot remain great if it betrays its allied and lets down its friends. —Our defeat and humiliation in South Vietnam without question would promote recklessness in the councils of those great powers who have not yet abandoned their goals of world conquest. —This would spark violence wherever our commitments help maintain the peace—in the Middle East, in Berlin, eventually even in the Western Hemisphere . . . For these reasons, I rejected the recommendation that I should end the war by immediately withdrawing all of our forces." —President Richard Nixon Address to the nation Nov. 3, 1969 What foreign policy direction does the President say the United States should follow?

The US should not withdraw from Vietnam, because that would cause problems elsewhere.

[Deputy Secretary of Defense Quarles] reported that the Soviet launching [of a satellite] on October 4th had apparently been highly successful. The President asked Secretary Quarles about the report that had come to his attention to the effect that [the US] could have placed a satellite in orbit many months ago. Secretary Quarles said that the Army feels it could erect a satellite four months from now if given the order. The President said that when this information reaches the Congress, they are bound to ask why this action was not taken [sooner]. -Memorandum of Conference with the President, October 9, 1957 What do these notes indicate about the relationship between the USSR and the United States?

The United States was competing to keep up with the USSR in the space race.