Topic 9 Test
The 26th Amendment In the turmoil surrounding the unpopular Vietnam War, lowering the national voting age became a controversial topic. Responding to arguments that those old enough to be drafted for military service, should be able to exercise the right to vote, Congress lowered the voting age as part of the Voting Rights Act of 1970. The Supreme Court upheld the legislation in a 5 to 4 vote in applying the lowered voting age to federal elections only. A constitutional amendment was required to uniformly reduce the age to 18. Endorsed by Speaker Carl Albert of Oklahoma, the amendment passed the House 400 to 19 on March 23, 1971. On June 30, 1971, Ohio became the 39th state to ratify the amendment; however the official ratification did not take effect until July 1 when the Government Services Administration opened for the day. With the 1972 elections looming, the 26th Amendment was ratified in record time. President Richard M. Nixon officially certified it on July 5. Why did it take some time before the provision lowering the voting age would apply nationwide?
An amendment requires ratification by individual states.
Why did the United States ultimately decide to support the French rather than Ho Chi Minh's forces in the Indochina War?
The U.S. wanted to stop the spread of communism in Asia.
What impact did George Wallace's third-party candidacy have on the 1968 presidential election?
It siphoned votes from Humphrey's candidacy, allowing Nixon to win.
In what way was the United States' decision to support the French in Indochina a departure from its usual foreign policy?
The U.S. was generally in favor of decolonization.
What objective did American military leaders hope to achieve in North Vietnam with military campaigns such as Operation Rolling Thunder?
They believed that the strikes would lower the enemy's morale and drive the North Vietnamese to negotiate a peace treaty.
What strategy did President Johnson's advisors Robert McNamara and General Westmoreland insist was necessary to winning the war in Vietnam?
committing more troops and taking a more active role in combat activities
What best describes the main difference between many American troops stationed in Vietnam before 1965 and those stationed there after that date?
Many troops stationed there before 1965 were volunteers, while many of those after were drafted into the service.
During the Vietnam War, African American soldiers
made up a disproportionately high number of casualties.
True or false regarding the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution affected U.S. military policy in Vietnam. The passing of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution gave President Johnson broad, new war powers by essentially handing Congress' war powers (as expressed in the Constitution) over to the executive branch. As a result, President Johnson could commit troops and military resources to the Vietnamese conflict as he saw fit, without having to go through Congress for an official declaration of war.
True
Critics of the Selective Service System argued that the draft was not fair. The system gave local draft boards considerable influence in selecting men for service, and it also granted deferments to college students and men who worked in certain designated occupations. Most of the 2.5 million men who served in Vietnam came from working-class and poor backgrounds. What measure did the Selective Service System take to address these criticisms of the draft in 1969?
A ―lottery‖ system was implemented, in which recruits were picked at random.
How did Clark Clifford's Vietnam policy differ from that of his predecessor Robert McNamara?
Clifford believed the war was unwinnable and sought to reach a peace agreement.
Ho Chi Minh's military doctrine hinged on fighting only when victory was assured, which meant never fighting on his opponents' terms. He compared his troops to a tiger, while the Americans were like an elephant. If the tiger stands still, the elephant will crush it. But if the tiger keeps moving and occasionally jumps on the elephant to take a bite out of it, the elephant will slowly bleed to death. What did Ho Chi Minh believe this strategy would ultimately accomplish against the American military?
He believed that if the North Vietnamese wore the American forces down enough they would eventually leave.
How did the War Powers Act of 1973 affect the President's ability to conduct military operations?
It forced him to consult with Congress before ordering any military strikes.
Why did South Vietnam fall to the communists after the Paris Peace accords?
North Vietnam refused to sign the treaty until U.S. troops left South Vietnam.
What impact did defense spending for the Vietnam War have on education in the U.S.?
Payingforthewaraffectededucationspending.?
How did U.S. policy in Vietnam change following the Tet Offensive?
Policy makers thought the war unwinnable and began to negotiate for peace.
Dien Bien Phu showed that
the French could no longer hold on to Vietnam.
The violence that erupted outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968 and the confusion inside gave the impression that
the nation was in disorder and the Democrats had lost control.
During the Vietnam War, what contributed to low morale among US troops and on the home front?
Fewer troop deployments, an increase in taxes, and a deteriorating economy. OR The ability of North Vietnam to reinforce its troops with soldiers arriving from China and the Soviet Union.
American Troops Withdraw from Vietnam In October 1972, the United States and North Vietnam came to terms on a peace settlement. One month later, with lasting peace almost at hand, Nixon easily defeated the antiwar Democrat George McGovern for reelection. But Nixon's triumph was short-lived. The Vietnamese peace fell apart when North Vietnam refused to sign the agreement. Talks broke off, but renewed American bombing in North Vietnam finally induced the North Vietnamese to resume negotiations. How was the 1972 presidential election most like the 1968 election?
Nixon used promises to end the war to his advantage.
