View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Ramsey is captured by the Vietcong in 1966 and held prisoner for ________ years.

2. One of the primary sources of income for Vietnamese families in U.S. controlled areas (especially the large cities like Saigon) is:

3. John Paul Vann and Daniel Ellsberg drive to which location and become the first Americans to do so in over a year?

4. To what rank is John Paul Vann promoted by the Washington, DC, high command?

5. Starting in April, 1967, these event begin as a result of the growing VC numbers:

Short Essay Questions

1. Following the inconclusive, but embarrassing, result of Ap Bac, General Huynh Van Cao launched a dummy attack on the same location. Why did he do this? What was the result?

2. What was John Paul Vann's strategy for turning the war in the United States' favor? How did this differ from the U.S. policy at the time?

3. Was John Paul Vann content to fulfill his new duties? Why or why not?

4. Which parent did the majority of the household chores in the Vann home? Why?

5. With whom did John Paul Vann spend a great amount of his time growing up? Why?

6. Who was the most influential and first real friend that John Paul Vann had? Why did this person have such an impact on John Paul Vann's life?

7. What prominent CIA figure eventually adopted and promoted John Paul Vann's assessment of the Vietnam War? Why was this person important?

8. What did this situation make John Paul Vann realize?

9. What did General Westmoreland feel was the key to victory?

10. What new war tactic, employed by the U.S. marines in 1965, particularly disgusted John Paul Vann and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

President John Kennedy wanted to approach the situation in South Vietnam with a tactic he termed "Counter Insurgency" (COIN). What was counter-insurgency and how was it implemented? Did it have the effect that JFK wanted it to? Why or why not? Would the program have been more effective if it were implemented earlier or in a more aggressive way? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

At least five United States' Presidents attempted to deal with the situation in Vietnam. Which presidents were involved and how did each one approach the problems created by the U.S. military (or advisory) operations in Vietnam? In your opinion, which president's approach was best in your opinion and why?

Essay Topic 3

From what you recall in the book, please outline a brief background of the events before, during, and immediately after the tell-tale Battle of Ap Bac. Be sure to include the major events that led directly to the outcome of the confrontation, as well as the overall significance for this battle to the rest of the war.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 933 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample