Structured Academic Controversy: Use this sheet to prepare for your issue discussion.
Issue Question:
Was it necessary for the US government to get involved in the Vietnam conflict?
My Assigned Position:
It was not necessary
1st Argument:
The US wants to try to end the Cold War
2nd Argument:
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution & War
Powers Act
3rd Argument:
Proper balance of liberty and order
within society
Reasoning and Evidence:
Containment theory trying to be cast off with Nixon's
policy of detente (SALT I) army reductions,
anti-ballistic arms treaty
Reasoning and Evidence:
Imbalance of checks and balances, president has
too much power and can overstep congress in
decision making in the war
Reasoning and Evidence:
Kent State Massacre & protest songs = disruption
throughout society even in the youth (college
students)
Predicting Opposing Arguments:
1. Vietnam War contained communism = justification
2. US support demonstrated American commitment to upholding treaties and alliances
Opposing Team Arguments (summarize with given evidence)
1st
Nixon's policy of detente = diffuse tensions wings overs through Vietnam
2nd
China became communist so US needed to contain it through Vietnam
3rd
Gulf of Tonkin attack by North Vietnam so president needed to respond immediately,
humanitarian aid
What points from both sides can your group agree upon?
National foreign policy (detente) was hypocritical to our involvement in Vietnam.
What points from the discussion still divide your group?
The role of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in the US fighting in Vietnam was a point of division
because it showed a disruption in the system of checks and balances.
Reflect: In a well-developed paragraph, explain what side you support. Use evidence from your discussion,
given documents, and any additional notes you have taken to support your viewpoint.
The US's involvement in Vietnam was not necessary to the extent of supplying everything
for the war except morale, which is what occurred. Given the historical context of the war,
the US had an obligation to uphold their reputation and national honor by following
through with the Truman Doctrine, which stated that the nation would do everything in its
power to contain communism and prevent it from spreading throughout the world. This is
particularly true because of the nation's hesitancy in becoming involved in World War II
and historical difficulties in upholding their past alliances. However, the fact that Nixon
had to "Vietnamese" the Vietnam War in order to peacefully withdraw US troops speaks
volumes to America's overextension of involvement in the conflict. The transition in the
federal budget to investing more money on defense and military than on domestic
improvements also rocked the federal budget and created an ominous cycle of increasing
national debt. Therefore the Vietnam War was unnecessary and harmful to the United
States to the extent that it occurred, but a mire mild form of involvement would have been
necessary to maintain national honor and contain communism.