Possible Exam Questions for Final, History 3394, Summer 2004

1.  Describe the development of the so-called National Security State, with specific mention and analysis of the National Security Act, NSC-68, and criticism of these policies.

2.  What were the U.S. aims in the Cold War in Asia in the late 1940s and early 1950s, specifically with regard to China, Japan and Korea.

3.  Using Latin America in the 1960s as an example, discuss the Kennedy program for the region and the emphases given to "modernization" and "militarization" and whether, in your estimation, such programs worked.

4.  How did global economic events in the late 1960s and early 1970s affect America's place in the world?

5.  Discuss Ronald Reagan's escalation of the Cold War in the 1980s in Latin America.  What were U.S. aims in that region, U.S. policies, and the consequences?

6.  Why, in the aftermath of World War II, did the U.S. become involved in Vietnam?  What were some of the larger issues--cold war, development, global economies--that affected decisions regarding Indochina at that time--up to the early 1960s?

7.  According to the book Masters of War, American military leaders were not enthused about going to war in Vietnam and thought the war was going badly after the U.S. commitment there.  What reasons did they give for their pessimism?

Plus, there will be questions on LaFeber and/or Clarke's books!!!!!  Don't ignore them.