Answer:
Mainly the Soviet Union backed the Viet Minh otherwise known as the North Vietnamese as the USSR backed many communist/socialist countries around the world in small proxy wars against the United States to try and gain influence and expand communism. So your answer would be the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
The gold rush brought thousands of people to California.
To reinforce America's stance as a global superpower as a force not to be reckoned with- as it was a huge show of force.
This is true and the after-dinner speeches did develop in England
during that time and their purpose was mainly to entertain or to state something
important but in humorous way. Any topic could discussed if it was approached
humorously and even though its main purpose was to entertain it could also be a
bit informational and persuasive.