Option 1: The main reason behind the United State’s involvement in the Vietnam War was because they wanted to contain communism and was also an effect of the Tonkin Gulf Incident, which occurred on August 2nd, 1964. This incident involved an American ship by the name of USS Maddox which was patrolling in the Gulf of Tonkin when suddenly, “The Maddox was supposedly chased by three North Vietnamese Navy torpedo boats. A sea battle ensued…” (From Lecture) Initially, during Truman’s presidency, we sent money to France to help battle communism in Vietnam, which ultimately failed. Consequently, France pulled out of the war right as the next president who was Eisenhower sent troops over to help fight in Vietnam. The situation fatefully escalated during
The Vietnam War began in 1954 after years of conflict stretching back to the 1940s between the communist regime of North Vietnam and South Vietnam. North Vietnam was attempting to make South Vietnam a communist country; since we are a democracy, the United States opposes the views of communist countries, and because we feared the spread of communism the United States became involved as an ally of South Vietnam. The war ended in 1975, resulting in disastrous effects on Vietnam and America. The assertion of the United States in this war rose controversy among Americans, and I disagree with our involvement in the Vietnam War because of the United States’ reasons to fight.
Exploring the Reasons for United States' Involvement in Vietnam 1. US involvement in Vietnam The US wanted to stop communist expansion into South Vietnam after successfully stopping them from capturing South Korea but President Eisenhower could not get the support of the people. Therefore he used a different way i.e. sending a team of 12 intelligence agents under Colonel Edward Lansdale to win over the South Vietnamese people by spreading lies about the Ho Chi Minh government killing political opponents and the presence of Chinese communists in South Vietnam. Besides that colonel Lansdale also employed mercenaries to sabotage North Vietnam and boost up the image of President Diem.
There is no single fixed reason as to why the U.S. entered the Vietnam War. The United States became involved in the war step by step until it was completely committed, which was when Japan took over Indochina. There is, however, multiple reasons as to why stopping communism in Vietnam became a major U.S. priority. Presidents Eisenhower and Truman both advocated doing everything in their power to keep communism, which is a social system where all property is collectively owned instead of by individuals, from spreading throughout the world. Therefore, the domino theory is one of the major reasons it became a U.S. priority to prevent Vietnam from falling to communism. Another major reason for the action taken by the United States towards this dilemma would be that if the United States hadn’t taken part, the non-communist people of South Vietnam would have been persistently victimized and tortured. Lastly, it became a priority to the U.S. because the nation just generally felt responsible in helping Vietnam become independent and to be involved in the global fight against communism.
The United States involvement in Vietnam was the longest war the U.S. has ever took part in and was considered an extended military engagement due to the fact congress never formally declared war with Vietnam (FCNL). The Vietnam War began on November 1, 1955 and lasted for 20 years until April 30, 1975. The war was fought between the communist Northern Vietnamese and the anti-communist Southern Vietnamese after the country was temporarily divided by the Geneva Accords. Americas entering of the Vietnam War proved to be an extremely controversial decision due to citizens belief that the United States reasons for intervention were unnecessary nor justified, and young teens were mainly drafted under the Selective Service Act. The death toll of nearly 3,595,000 people from the war was the result of years of conflict in Vietnam prior to the war (Statistical). The policy of imperialism, division of Vietnam, and American Ideology created circumstances in which the Vietnam War was an inevitable outcome that would forever change the lives of millions of people.
The United States involvement in the Vietnam War developed into one of the most brutal, yet necessary wars of The Cold War. Although the war was viewed poorly by most, it helped a weak, crumbling South Vietnam stand up to a strong powerful North Vietnam that was forcing communism on them. President Johnson even stated that “Our objective is the independence of South Vietnam and its freedom from attack.” The United States wanted to stop an oppressive government and to make sure the world is a safer, freer place for all people. The Vietnam War was worth fighting for as it sent a message to the world that communism is not the right form of government and that the United States was here to support small nations in dire circumstances. The war
America's involvement in Vietnam was rooted in the containment policies of the Cold War. President Eisenhower and Truman believed that if Southern Vietnam fell to the Communists that all Southeast Asia would be next (The Domino Theory). Starting with the fall of China in 1949, which turned a local nationalist struggle against the French rule in Indochina into a world wide strategic battleground. As far back as World War II, FDR had supported the Vietnamese forces led by Ho Chi Minh a communist, and had called for an end to French Colonial rule. However after Jiang’s Failure, American policy changed. Fears of a communist victory in Indochina caused the United States to abandon its position of neutrality and openly endorse French policy
The Vietnam War was a very intensified war among multiple countries. It was know as the Second IndoChina War and took place in South/North Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. It was also known to other counties as the only for America lost. The war was against the Vietnam Cong and the Viet Minh and was the third war in Vietnam between the north and south. The United States played a big role in the war and so did many other counties that were involved in the war. It is very important to know about this war and how it effected many people of not only our country but others as well.
and it also does not state why it was a concern. It could have been
The Vietnam War was one of the most outrageous and long-drawn out wars in history. The other name for the Vietnam War was called Cold-Era proxy War. The war had been battled in order to stop the spread of invasion from communism in the southern parts of Vietnam. The American played the role of a supporter to the southern part of Vietnam, trying to prevent communist from approaching the southern part of Vietnam. The Americans was influenced by the French government to help with the war. France did not support communism due to their loss to the communist
The Vietnam War spanned over several decades, included several United States Presidents and caused controversy over the nation. The U.S. involvement in the war began as a fight against the spread of communism. Eventually it became unclear to the people of the United States what the goal of the war was. It caused disapproval and concern among Americans.
1/10 soldiers that either volunteered or were drafted was killed during the events of the Vietnam War
America’s involvement in Vietnam goes back to World War II when it was still a French colony. After World War II, Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel with the Geneva Accords into the Communist North and Democratic South. The proxy war in Vietnam occurred in the Turbulent Sixties, after the Eisenhower years which the death of Stalin occurred. John F Kennedy was assassinated; with instability in the nation, Lyndon Johnson was installed as president.
The Vietnam War caused a spike in American deaths in the 1960’s. Even more Vietnamese citizens died due to United States troops. Children in South Vietnam wandered the streets as they yell for their dead parents. Soldiers lose their sanity over seas and kill there own United States soldiers. Even though the government told citizens the war would be over soon, the war seemed like a never ending battle full of ruthless killings and long suffering deaths.
From Vietnam to Iraq, the United States has intervened in dozens of countries, claiming each instance as a fight for democracy and liberation. While that claim is embraced by some Americans, others reject it. Since the 1900s, a growing number of Americans have questioned U.S. international motives and oppose U.S. intervention abroad. These Americans believe that intervention results in pointless bloodshed without liberation. Movies can act as a medium to represent the full spectrum of American attitudes towards U.S. intervention abroad. Full Metal Jacket (1979) follows the journey of a Marine recruit during the Vietnam War, and Argo (2012) recounts the CIA rescue of six American hostages
The main cause of the Vietnam War revolved around the simple belief held by America that communism was threatening to expand all over south-east Asia. Neither the Soviet Union or the United States could risk an all-out War against each other. Even though the Soviet Union and the USA could not risk an all-out War, they still fought against each other in the Vietnam War.