"Explain why the United States became increasingly involved in the war in Vietnam"

In 1960, the Vietminh set up the National Liberation Front (NLF), which had very strong communist policies and ideas. They set out to achieve a 'social revolution' by giving the land to the peasants and involving them in the running of their villages. They also involved women greatly, actively using them in fighting and working. This gained the NLF with a lot of support. This worried the USA. In 1962 an American report showed that the peasants tended to support the Vietcong (supporters of the NLF). They thought that the NLF were spreading through Vietnam- the NLF was supposed to be Southern based; however it was actually run from Hanoi.

The ARVN were against the NLF with greatly contrasting ideas. They were supposed to protect peasants from the NLF but in actual fact treated the peasants badly, and so many turned to the NLF. America supported the South, as they were opposed to the communist NLF.

After the French European power had pulled out of their part in Vietnam, there was less funding and so America was further involved in paying a large 70% of the ARVN's costs.

When the Berlin Wall went up, President Kennedy made a speech in which he famously claimed he was a sausage. This was because he had tried to say "I am a Berliner" but had translated the phrase wrong. It was a huge embarrassment to America; it made him look stupid and too arrogant to get the translation right. After this humiliation, Kennedy wanted to show America's power, and saw the Vietnam situation as a perfect opportunity. He promised to support Diem. This involved America even further. Increasing "advisors" of Diem from 700 to 15,000 in Vietnam he had involved his country even more.

This act, to dismay, also backfired rather badly on him. Diem turned out to be a tyrant, who treated his people very badly and had a strong will to be a dictator. He lost a lot of support and America could see that he would not win the up coming election.

America wanted a good excuse to get well and truly involved in the Vietnamese situation. They sent in the CIA to set up a situation in which the North looked like it was actively attacking the South.

"We will take all the necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the US"- LB Johnson.

America could now help the South Vietnamese army against the Vietcong and try to stop communism spreading. It also looked like the Americans were defending themselves, in order to look like they had no choice but to get involved.