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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What event does Halberstam say triggered bombing operations against the North?
(a) The Gulf of Tonkin Incident.
(b) The Bay of Pigs invasion.
(c) A North Vietnamese success in the Mekong Delta.
(d) A North Vietnamese attack on American B-57 bombers.

2. How did McNamara's position on bombing change over time?
(a) After a year, he reversed his position entirely.
(b) After a few months, he was convinced of bombing's effectiveness.
(c) After the first weeks, he was sure that bombing would end the war.
(d) Years later, he would say that he had doubts about how useful bombing would be.

3. Why did President Johnson authorize bombing attacks on North Vietnam, in Halberstam's account?
(a) He thought that an overwhelming display of force would convince other nations in the region to accept American influence.
(b) He believed that if Vietnam went Communist, the rest of the region would turn Communist as well.
(c) He thought that bombing was a final resort, and after it failed, he could strategically withdraw.
(d) He thought that breaking Vietcong resistance would create trade opportunities for American companies.

4. What does Halberstam say the U.S. assured its generals during their meeting in Vietnam?
(a) That they would continue humanitarian aid.
(b) That they would continue aid in the event of a coup.
(c) That they would not cross the border into Cambodia.
(d) That they would be victorious by the end of 1966.

5. Who does Halberstam say eventually took on the role of setting the tone for Vietnam policy?
(a) Harriman.
(b) Bundy.
(c) Taylor.
(d) Rusk.

Short Answer Questions

1. What problem does Halberstam say McNamara discovered in Vietnam?

2. What plan was the U.S. government following by the end of 1964?

3. What did the fact-finding trip to Vietnam in early 1965 coincide with?

4. What plan was the U.S. government preparing for by the end of 1964?

5. What does Halberstam say conditions were like in South Vietnam by the end of 1964?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was the public story of the Gulf of Tonkin incident, and what was the truth?

2. What does Halberstam say the effect of the Vietnam war on the American people was?

3. What was the military's position on bombing North Vietnam?

4. What did the Johnson administration tell America as it committed more troops to Vietnam?

5. Who expressed doubt about the Vietnam war, and what happened to their opposition?

6. What does Halberstam say McNamara found in Vietnam when the Johnson administration took over?

7. What does Halberstam say began to change in early 1964?

8. What happened during the Gulf of Tonkin incident?

9. Describe what Halberstam calls 'the Bundy trip' to Vietnam.

10. What was President Johnson's position regarding Vietnam in the early days of his presidency?

(see the answer keys)

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