US policy on Vietnam from 1950s through 1972

The United States stumbled into a shaky government inthe 1950s and the unvarying policy of every subsequent administration was to do what was necessary to prevent the collaspse of that government. They were doing so not because they anticipated victory but because they saw no alternative. However high the costs of intervention , they believed the cost of not intervening, of allowing South Vietnam to fall, would be higher. Only when the national and internationalp political situation had shifted to the point where was possible for American policymakers to reassess the costs of containment to conclude that the cost of continuing the commitment-was it possible for the United States to begin ... click for more

Outline of the 1938 Munich Crisis and likely outcome of war if appeasement not chosen in 1938.

What happened at Munich in 1938 has become an oft-cited example of the lessons of history by politicians today - particularly when dealing with questions of war or peace. The following outline examines the following questions regarding Munich and provides an excellent basis for research into this seminal historic event. -1)What were Hitler's aims and did he achieve them? Why did he settle at Munich? -2)What were the aims of Britain and France? Did they achieve them? -3)What was the likely outcome of a European War started in October 1938? Used for class presentation "Origins and Conduct of the Second World War" at the London School of Economics, 2002-2003.

US Policy on the Vietnam War and the impact of the Tet Offensive

The Tet Offensive completely changed US intervention in Vietnam. This attack is a turning point for the US and its policy toward the Vietnam War.

Why did the Germans lose WWII?

When analyzing the Second World War, the question of how the Germans managed to lose despite their stunning military success through June 1940 immediately comes to mind. The string of German victories in the Soviet Union the following year gives the impression that the war was decided in the winter of 1941, if not later. Although the actual "turning point" certainly occurred in the East, such a judgement relies only on the outcome of specific military engagements and does not address the underlying strategic decisions that led to such decisive battles in the first place. This outline looks at the strategic implications of Hitler's decisions in relation to four key events in 1940: the invas... click for more

Why was it possible for the South to hold out for so long against the North in the civil war?

Why, considering that the Union had vast superiority in resources and manpower, was the Confederacy able to hold out as long as it did during the Civil War?