The Cold War's Impact in Asia

John Green discusses the Cold War, focusing on the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The Korean War, often forgotten, was a significant conflict involving the US and China. The Vietnam War, driven by Cold War fears, saw US involvement escalate under Johnson and Nixon. The war's brutality and media coverage led to public disillusionment. Nixon's strategies, including Vietnamization, failed to stabilize the region. The war ended with the Paris Peace Agreement, but left a lasting impact on US trust in government.

Which country became communist in 1949, directly engaging with US troops during the Korean War?

• Vietnam

• North Korea

• South Korea

• China

What was the primary reason Truman did not declare the Korean War a 'war'?

• To minimize the conflict's significance

• To avoid panic

• To maintain secrecy

• To bypass Congress

What theory suggested that if one country in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would follow?

• Ripple effect

• Domino theory

• Butterfly effect

• Chain reaction

Who was the US supporting against communism in Vietnam initially?

• Pol Pot

• Ngo Dinh Diem

• Kim Il Sung

• Ho Chi Minh

Which president is most associated with the escalation of American troops in Vietnam?

• John F. Kennedy

• Dwight D. Eisenhower

• Lyndon B. Johnson

• Richard Nixon

What incident falsely justified the escalation of US involvement in Vietnam?

• Tet Offensive

• Pearl Harbor attack

• My Lai massacre

• Gulf of Tonkin incident

What was the primary goal of 'vietnamization'?

• Gradually withdraw US troops

• Increase US military presence

• Intensify bombing campaigns

• Spread communism

Which group's rise to power was inadvertently aided by US actions in Cambodia?

• Viet Cong

• Khmer Rouge

• Hmong rebels

• Pathet Lao

What did the Pentagon Papers reveal?

• US victory strategies

• Government dishonesty about the war

• Plans for post-war Vietnam

• Nuclear strategies

What was a significant societal impact of the Vietnam War in the US?

• Decreased military spending

• Increased trust in government

• Erosion of trust in government

• Strengthening of US-Soviet relations