Cold War: How and why America got into Vietnam Return to the case study menu
Worksheets Print Source (this will open a PDF file containing images used in this case study)  

Work online using a word editor
Comprehension
7a Here is a summary of the contents of this clip. Complete the table by putting in the time of the various elements of the clip.
Time Events shown
0:00 South Vietnamese riot police and troops
  Protesters against South Vietnam government
  Troops and police moving in
  Buddhist monks and their followers stage sit-down protest and talk to press
  New government headed by military leaders takes power in South Vietnam


Analysis and Interpretation
7b The historian George C Herring of the University of Kentucky believed that no actions of the USA 'would have solved what was always the central problem: the political viability of South Vietnam'.
  • What impression does this clip give of the relationship between the government of South Vietnam and its people? Does it support Herring's view?
  • Why would you be cautious about using only this clip as evidence of the relationship between the government of South Vietnam and its people?
  • Using this source, other sources and your own knowledge, do you agree with the American historian's analysis?

Case Study Question
Fill out the relevant line of your Case Study Worksheet.

The Big Question
Look at your answers to the questions on source 7.
Does Source 7 help you to decide whether any of the criticisms of US policy were valid?
Does the source help you to decide whether the criticisms are only valid in hindsight?
 Source 1Source 2Source 3Source 4Source 5Source 6Source 7

British news film showing protests by South Vietnamese people against their own government in 1965 (ITN Archive).

British news film showing protests by South Vietnamese people against their own government in 1965