5.3.18
Reasons for Support 1
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The ‘Red Scare’
In the aftermath of the Second World War and the beginning of the Cold War, many Americans believed that communists would start a revolution in the USA and destroy their way of life.

Fear of communism
- After WWII and at the start of the Cold War, many Americans feared communists would start a revolution in the USA.
- Communists were forced out of jobs and homes, and some were arrested.
- This fear was called the ‘Red Scare’.
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The ‘Red Scare’
- This fear of communism led many Americans to support the war in Vietnam as a way of stopping a communist takeover of the country.
- This was the most common reason for support of the war.

The Cold War
- However, the Red Scare also explains why the US only wanted a limited war in Vietnam.
- As they didn’t want to escalate the war into a full scale war with the USSR.
- The Vietnam War was a ‘flashpoint’ in the Cold War.
The ‘Hard Hats’
Another reason why people supported the war was patriotism; for the love and loyalty to the USA.

Patriotism
- Another reason why people supported the war was patriotism; for the love and loyalty to the USA.
- This meant when the government told people to take part in the war, many people did so willingly as they didn’t want to let America down.

International standing
- Patriots also didn’t want to let America ‘lose face’ by giving in to another country, as it would make the USA look weak.

The ‘Hard Hats’
- The ‘Hard Hats’ was a nickname given to construction workers who supported the war.
- On 8th May 1970, some ‘Hard Hats’ attacked an anti-war protest in New York, beating up some of the protesters.

War rallies
- The police did nothing to stop them, and two days later they held their own pro-war rally outside City Hall.
- About 60,000 people attended this rally.
1Was the Treaty of Versailles Fair?
1.1What were the Motives and Aims at Versailles?
1.2Did the Victors Get Everything They Wanted?
1.3What was the Impact on Germany up to 1923?
1.4Could the Treaty be Justified at the Time?
2Was the League of Nations a Success?
2.1How did Weaknesses in the League Lead to Failure?
2.2The League’s Success in Peacekeeping
2.3How Important was the League's Humanitarian Work?
2.4How did the Depression Impact the League?
3How did Hitler's Foreign Policy Impact the War?
3.1What were the Long-Term Consequences of Versailles
3.2What were the Consequences of the League's Failure
3.3Was the Policy of Appeasement Justified?
3.4How Important was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
3.5Why did Britain & France Declare War on Germany?
3.5.1The Guarantee for Poland and the War3.5.2Hitler’s Foreign Policy & Rearmament3.5.3Hitler's Plan3.5.4The Saar3.5.5Remilitarisation of the Rhineland3.5.6The Rome-Berlin Axis3.5.7Germany & Italy in the Spanish War3.5.8The Anti-Comintern Pact3.5.9Anschluss with Austria3.5.10The Munich Agreement3.5.11The Crisis over Czechoslovakia
4Who was to Blame for the Cold War?
4.1Why did the US-Soviet Alliance Break Down?
4.2How did the USSR Gain Control of Eastern Europe?
4.3How did the US React to Soviet Expansionism?
4.4What were the Consequences of the Berlin Blockade?
4.5Who was More to Blame for Starting the Cold War?
5Did the US Contain the Spread of Communism?
5.1The US and Korea, 1950-53
5.2The US and Cuba, 1959-62
5.3The US and Vietnam, 1955-75
5.3.1French Rule in Vietnam5.3.2President Eisenhower5.3.3President Kennedy5.3.4The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 19645.3.5US Tactics5.3.6Vietcong Tactics5.3.7The Vietcong5.3.8The My Lai Massacre, 19685.3.9Vietnamisation5.3.10The Tet Offensive, 19685.3.11Attacks on Cambodia & Laos5.3.12The Bombing of North Vietnam5.3.13The Failure of Vietnamisation5.3.14The Growth of Opposition5.3.15The Draft System5.3.16The Kent State University Shootings, 19705.3.17Political Opposition5.3.18Reasons for Support 15.3.19Reasons for Support 25.3.20Political Support5.3.21Peace Negotiations5.3.22The Paris Peace Accords, 19735.3.23Economic & Human Costs 15.3.24Economic & Human Costs 25.3.25The Strengths of North Vietnam 15.3.26The Strengths of North Vietnam 25.3.27The Weaknesses of the US 15.3.28The Weaknesses of the US 25.3.29Opposition in the US5.3.30Reasons Why USA Lost
6How was USSR's Control Over Eastern Europe?
6.1Opposition to Control in Hungary & Czechoslovakia
6.2Similarities Between Hungary & Czechoslovakia
6.3Why was the Berlin Wall Built?
6.4Solidarity in Poland & Soviet Influence
Jump to other topics
1Was the Treaty of Versailles Fair?
1.1What were the Motives and Aims at Versailles?
1.2Did the Victors Get Everything They Wanted?
1.3What was the Impact on Germany up to 1923?
1.4Could the Treaty be Justified at the Time?
2Was the League of Nations a Success?
2.1How did Weaknesses in the League Lead to Failure?
2.2The League’s Success in Peacekeeping
2.3How Important was the League's Humanitarian Work?
2.4How did the Depression Impact the League?
3How did Hitler's Foreign Policy Impact the War?
3.1What were the Long-Term Consequences of Versailles
3.2What were the Consequences of the League's Failure
3.3Was the Policy of Appeasement Justified?
3.4How Important was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
3.5Why did Britain & France Declare War on Germany?
3.5.1The Guarantee for Poland and the War3.5.2Hitler’s Foreign Policy & Rearmament3.5.3Hitler's Plan3.5.4The Saar3.5.5Remilitarisation of the Rhineland3.5.6The Rome-Berlin Axis3.5.7Germany & Italy in the Spanish War3.5.8The Anti-Comintern Pact3.5.9Anschluss with Austria3.5.10The Munich Agreement3.5.11The Crisis over Czechoslovakia
4Who was to Blame for the Cold War?
4.1Why did the US-Soviet Alliance Break Down?
4.2How did the USSR Gain Control of Eastern Europe?
4.3How did the US React to Soviet Expansionism?
4.4What were the Consequences of the Berlin Blockade?
4.5Who was More to Blame for Starting the Cold War?
5Did the US Contain the Spread of Communism?
5.1The US and Korea, 1950-53
5.2The US and Cuba, 1959-62
5.3The US and Vietnam, 1955-75
5.3.1French Rule in Vietnam5.3.2President Eisenhower5.3.3President Kennedy5.3.4The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 19645.3.5US Tactics5.3.6Vietcong Tactics5.3.7The Vietcong5.3.8The My Lai Massacre, 19685.3.9Vietnamisation5.3.10The Tet Offensive, 19685.3.11Attacks on Cambodia & Laos5.3.12The Bombing of North Vietnam5.3.13The Failure of Vietnamisation5.3.14The Growth of Opposition5.3.15The Draft System5.3.16The Kent State University Shootings, 19705.3.17Political Opposition5.3.18Reasons for Support 15.3.19Reasons for Support 25.3.20Political Support5.3.21Peace Negotiations5.3.22The Paris Peace Accords, 19735.3.23Economic & Human Costs 15.3.24Economic & Human Costs 25.3.25The Strengths of North Vietnam 15.3.26The Strengths of North Vietnam 25.3.27The Weaknesses of the US 15.3.28The Weaknesses of the US 25.3.29Opposition in the US5.3.30Reasons Why USA Lost
6How was USSR's Control Over Eastern Europe?
6.1Opposition to Control in Hungary & Czechoslovakia
6.2Similarities Between Hungary & Czechoslovakia
6.3Why was the Berlin Wall Built?
6.4Solidarity in Poland & Soviet Influence
Practice questions on Reasons for Support 1
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1Which term refers to the American fear of communism?Multiple choice
- 2
- 3How were communists treated in America in the 1960s? True / false
- 4
- 5
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