Introduction
The domino theory was a theory prominent from the 1950s to the 1980s, that speculated that if one state in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would follow in a domino effect. In Southeast Asia, the United States government used the domino theory to justify its support of a non-communist regime in South Vietnam. This was against the communist government that North Vietnam had at that time, and the government that they still have today. We were ultimately getting more involved with this part of the world and their government. In fact, the American failure to prevent a communist victory in Vietnam had much less of a global impact than had been assumed by the domino theory. Though, many communist regimes did rise up in Laos and Cambodia after around 1975, communism failed to spread throughout the rest of Southeast Asia.
Task
In this project you will be watching a video on history.com about the domino theory. Afterwards, you will answer some questions that we have created about the video. Next, you will take a quiz about the topic on the next website to see what you learned along with another general knowledge quiz. After the second quiz, have each member of your group unscramble some terms and then go to the last provided link and participate in our poll about the theory.
Process
Step 1: Watch this video called "The Road to War": www.history.com/topics/cold-war/domino-theory/videos
Now answer these questions:
1. Who was the president at the start of the Vietnam War?
2. What part of Vietnam did the U.S. choose to "prop up"?
3. What did the U.S. fear about Vietnam becoming communist?
4. What was the internal Guerrilla force called in North Vietnam?
5. What president considered pulling out soldiers from Vietnam?
6. What year did Vietnam insurgents chase out French colonists?
7. Why did the soldiers end up not getting pulled out of Vietnam?
8. Who was the president that sent more money, more advisors, and more weapons after J.F.K.?
9. How much money a day was the U.S. spending on the war?
10. What day did the Vietnam War change in America when the North Vietnam communists attacked an American boat?
Step 2: Read these articles about the theory:
- http://vietnamawbb.weebly.com/domino-theory.html
- http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/domino-theory
And answer these questions about them:
https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=the-domino-theory-quiz
Step 3: Unscramble the words!
1. Umcimsnmo
2. Het noiomd yhoert
3. Nevimta rwa
4. Ghwdit weneeishro
Step 4: Participate in our class poll by clicking this link: http://vote.pollcode.com/57475144
Evaluation
Conclusion
To conclude this web quest, the Domino theory was a major part of the war in Vietnam. The Domino theory helped stop the spread of communism from North Vietnam to South. Without the United States, and the Domino theory, South Vietnam would be run with communistic beliefs. Even though some communist regimes did spread to Cambodia, and Laos, it failed to spread throughout the rest of South East Asia.