Question

The US, a large, well-equipped country underestimated the power of nationalism and grit of the Vietnamese fighters. Select the reasons from the following that made it possible.

• A. US policy-planners underestimated the power of nationalism to galvanise people into action.
• B. The US regretted the fatal destruction caused by chemical weapons on the Vietnamese.
• C. The US citizens expressed their anger when young men were drafted for war.
• D. The US underestimated the grit of the army of peasants who had benefited from land reforms after generations of exploitation.

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (C), (D)

The US underestimated the grit of the army of peasants who had benefited from land reforms after generations of exploitation.

US policy-planners disregarded the Vietnamese and their spirit to fight because Vietnam was a relatively small nation and was technologically backwards. It also disregarded the grit of the poor peasants who had recently received land after generations of exploitation. The US citizens started to question the prolonged war in Vietnam. People expressed their anger when young men were drafted for war. People questioned the government’s policy in Vietnam. These factors forced the US establishment to the negotiating table.