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Difficulty: MediumThe Vietnam War and Foreign Policy

"Finally, you have broader considerations that might follow what you would call the 'falling domino' principle. You have a row of dominoes set up, you knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is the certainty that it will go over very quickly. So you could have a beginning of a disintegration that would have the most profound influences. Now, with respect to the transition of this, if Indochina passes, then several things can happen. It would turn the position of the neighboring nations and make it very difficult for them to remain free or self-governing... So, the possible consequences of the loss are just incalculable to the free world."

— President Dwight D. Eisenhower, News Conference, April 7, 1954

Which of the following developments in United States foreign policy was most directly motivated by the policy concept described in the excerpt?

  1. The gradual escalation of United States military involvement in South Vietnam during the 1960sAnswer
  2. B
    The passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to curtail presidential authority in committing armed forces to combat
  3. C
    The abandonment of containment in East Asia in favor of prioritizing economic aid to Western Europe
  4. D
    The immediate signing of the Paris Peace Accords to establish a neutral coalition government in Indochina

Answer

The gradual escalation of United States military involvement in South Vietnam during the 1960s
The 'falling domino' principle, or domino theory, formulated the idea that allowing one country in Southeast Asia to fall to communism would destabilize surrounding nations. This rationale directly motivated the United States to commit massive military resources and combat troops to South Vietnam in the 1960s to prevent a communist victory.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus document to identify the core historical argument or foreign policy theory.
The excerpt outlines the 'falling domino' principle (domino theory), which posits that the fall of Indochina to communism would lead to a chain reaction of neighboring nations falling as well.
Understanding the source's primary argument is necessary to connect it to broader historical developments.
2
Connect the domino theory to United States Cold War foreign policy objectives.
The domino theory was a direct application of the containment doctrine, aiming to block communist expansion in Southeast Asia.
This establishes the conceptual link between the theory and subsequent actions.
3
Determine which historical development was a direct consequence of this policy logic.
To prevent the first 'domino' (South Vietnam) from falling, successive U.S. administrations (Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson) increased economic aid, sent military advisors, and eventually escalated to full-scale military intervention in the 1960s.
This identifies the correct historical outcome driven by the domino theory.

Key Concept

The Domino Theory and Containment in Asia
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Topics

The Vietnam War and Foreign Policy

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