Part II: Document-Based Questions This task is based on the accompanying five documents. Some of these docu-
ments have been edited for the purposes of this task. This task is designed to test
your ability to work with historical documents. As you analyze the documents,
consider both the source of each document and the author's point of view.
Directions: Read the documents in Part A and answer the questions after each docu-
ment. Then, read the directions for Part B and write your essay.
Historical Context
Vietnamese rebels threw off French colonial rule in 1954, resulting in a
communist North Vietnam and anticommunist South Vietnam, supported
by the United States. Seeking to reunite Vietnam, communists in the south
launched a guerrilla war to overthrow the pro-American regime. This
campaign pushed South Vietnam's government to the brink of collapse. In
1965, America sent combat troops to Vietnam to fight the communists.
Task
Using information from the documents and your knowledge of U. S. history,
write an essay in which you do the following: 1. Explain the arguments for
and against U. S. military involvement in Vietnam. 2. Discuss how the Vietnam
War affected American society.