HSTAS/JSIS A 265 Viet Nam Between Revolution & War, 1940-2000 Preparation for second exam Essay questions: On the assigned day (see syllabus), please hand in a 2-3 pp. response paper to one of the following four essay questions. Your essay should comprise a main thesis or theses, stated at the beginning, and an extended discussion of supporting evidence. Be analytical, not just descriptive. At all cost, avoid being vague and too general in your argumentation; the clearer you state your own position and your own analysis, the better. Pay attention to the details of the essay question; stay focused on the topic. Be specific. For supporting evidence, the use of concrete historical examples from the readings, incl. the memoirs, documentaries, and/or lectures is recommended. The response paper needs to be typewritten, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins, common 12 pt. font. Proofread for spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax, etc.! This is an individual assignment. If necessary, make use of help provided by the Writing Centers in History and Political Science/SIS/LSJ and at Odegaard UGL. 1) “The same political arrangements, tactical moves, and personal characteristics that enabled Ngo Dinh Diem to gain and consolidate power in the south in 1954/55 were, ironically, also responsible for his overthrow and murder in 1963.” By discussing concrete historical examples, explain why you fully agree, partly agree, or disagree with this statement. 2) “As much as the Tet Offensive in 1968 came as a surprise to the American leadership and public, it was not a surprise to many among the Vietnamese public, since it seemed to conform with, and powerfully reaffirm, larger and long-standing patterns of Vietnamese history.” By analyzing concrete historical examples, explain why you fully agree, partly agree, or disagree with this statement. 3) For the period of 1969-1972, explain the relationship between the Cambodian incursion in 1970, the ARVN incursion into Laos in 1971, and the Easter Offensive (mostly) by the PAVN in 1972. What did each of these military campaigns signify for the course of the conflict? Why is the Easter Offensive so crucial to the subsequent signing of the Paris Agreement that ended the American phase of the war? 4) Comment on the parallels and differences between the French and the American involvements, actions, and experiences in the wars in Viet Nam. Consider, for example, broader political and cultural assumptions, territorial conceptions and propagandistic frames, military strategies, political moves, domestic considerations, distinct phases they went through, etc. How much were the French and the Americans actors in these wars, and how much were they forced to react to what Vietnamese were doing?