In 1950, conflict began between the communist North Korea and the republican South Korea. In June The president of the U.S.A, Harold Truman sent troops to assist S. Korea in defeating N. Korea and stopping communism from spreading. The “Truman Doctrine” stated that he wanted to contain communism where it is, to keep it in Eastern Europe. Truman believed that if Korea and other Asian countries fell to communism, America would be soon to follow. The Korean War ended inconclusively after it became unpopular to the American public, and 142,00 U.S soldiers were lost. Korea could be seen as a “wobbly domino”
In the meantime in 1950, the French Indochina War was taking place. France was unsuccessfully trying to regain control of Vietnam after losing it to Japan in 1940. However Japan had since left after the dropping of the A-bomb (1945) and the French were now fighting the Vietminh, who were defending Vietnam to gain it’s independence. The battle of Dien Bien Phu saw the French surrender on May 7th 1954, a great victory for the Vietminh. However, prior to the French defeat, in April 1954 a peace conference at Geneva had decided that Vietnam was to be divided in two at 17th Parallel. Leaving North Vietnam ruled by Ho Chi Minh and the Vietminh under a communist regime, and South Vietnam led by Ngo Dinh Diem and the ARVN under a republic regime.
President Eisenhower backed Diem in the South, believing strongly in the domino theory, and arguing that if S. Vietnam became communist
“The whole of the non-communist world would be at risk” He believed that if Vietnam fell to communism, it’s neighbouring countries and Asia would, leaving America soon to follow. This is the same view Truman took over Korea, confirming a constant fear of communism.
Despite Eisenhower’s want to stop the spread of communism, another war so soon after Korea would be extremely unpopular. (in fact comparing the Korean War to the Vietnam War shows many similarities)
So Eisenhower couldn’t send troops to help defeat N. Vietnam. Instead he sent aid to pay for weapons and equipment and he sent 12 Military advisors to the south to train the ARVN. This was the first real step in America’s involvement, because America now had a physical presence in Vietnam. This is the most important long-term cause, as without the advisors the Vietcong would not have had any Americans to attack and so no U.S bombing campaigns or ground troops would have been sent to retaliate.
John F Kennedy followed on from Eisenhower, believing in the same ideas. He upped the number of advisors in S. Vietnam and sent mercenaries; ex soldiers to actually fight the Vietcong. This intensified U.S involvement as by the end of 1962 there were 12,000 Americans present in Vietnam.
Kennedy also set up the “Strategic Hamlet” program. It’s aim was to stop the influence of the NLF on the south Vietnamese peasants. Many peasants were joining the NLF because they were helping them, so the U.S moved the peasants away from NLF areas to ARVN areas and built stockades around the villages. The peasants didn’t like this and so more joined the NLF. Strategic Hamlet failed and the situation in S. Vietnam was looking grim.
Diem was a devout catholic, so were 10 % of Vietnam, but 70 % of the Vietnamese people were Buddhist. Diem sent police to disperse Buddhist celebrations killing children. This angered Buddhists and caused them to protest. The most famous being Thich Quang Duc who burned himself to death in protest. Diem was becoming increasingly unpopular and looking increasingly incapable to the Americans. So, in 1963, the CIA ceased their efforts to protect him, letting a group of S. Vietnamese generals to murder him.
This meant that America now had to step in as a leader, thus increasing their involvement greatly. Three weeks later, President Kennedy was assassinated, so Lyndon Johnson took over. He too was a believer in the domino theory. Johnson’s advisors were aware that the ARVN were losing the war and were eager to send in U.S troops to secure victory. But Johnson wouldn’t give the order as it was too unpopular an idea to the public. He said
“Just let me get elected first, and then you can have your war” A plan to bomb military targets was drawn up called “Operation Flaming Dart” ready for Johnson’s order.
On August 2nd 1964, Vietcong forces apparently attacked the U.S.S. MADDOX. This gave the perfect excuse to put Flaming Dart into action. This was the first short-term cause as it was the first official U.S attack on N. Vietnam.
In February 1965, “Operation Rolling Thunder” was launched, its aim was to devastate N. Vietnam with round the clock bombing raids to stop aid being sent to the NLF in the south. Airbases were established in S. Vietnam to maintain Rolling thunder. However the Vietcong attacked these bases and the men there were unable to defend them properly. So on March 8th 1965, 3,500 U.S Marines were sent to S. Vietnam. This was the shortest term of all causes, it was what escalated the war and was the start of many American deaths.
Many historians have come up with many theories as to the reasons behind America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. For example, Schlesinger’s idea is “Bitter Heritage”. This idea is that America has had such a bad history of communism spreading ever nearer to them, that each president in turn has been forced to continue the previous president’s goal of stopping it. Each getting more and more into a quagmire of long war, and each president not being able to pull out.
Whereas Neom Chomsky’s idea is that America only entered Vietnam for economic reasons, to deny Russia Vietnam’s resources.
The most important cause of America’s involvement is the domino theory, because every president carried on the idea. From Truman to Eisenhower to Kennedy to Johnson. They all believed in it. They believed that if one country were to fall to communism (Vietnam) then another would fall and another and another until eventually ever country is communist. Just like a row of dominoes falling. Once one goes they all go. The presidents wanted to stop this. This proves that there is an underlying, constant American fear of communism. This is because a lot of rich Americans would lose a lot of their money if U.S.A became communist.
