Explain why the USA became increasingly involved in the Vietnam war

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

Rona Johnston

      Vietnam was a tiny country 9000 miles away from the United States, one which many Americans had never heard of before the Vietnam War. This was why it came as such a shock to people all over the world when America became involved with disputes of no relevance to them so far away.

       In 1945, Vietnam was divided into North and South Vietnam. North Vietnam became Communist under the rule of Ho Chi Minh whilst the south was led by anti-communist dictator Ngo Dinh Diem. On of the most important reasons for America becoming involved was that the West, in particularly the U.S were aware of the threat of Communism from the East and feared that the spread of Communism would eventually engulf most of the world, it was for this reason that the U.S felt strongly enough to support South Vietnam against the communist north. The Americans could not allow Communism to spread any further as they believed in the ‘Domino theory’ in which if one country fell to Communism then others would quickly follow.

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Another reason for the initial involvement of the U.S was the fact that they felt it was their duty as ‘moral guardians to the world’ to protect other countries. They had previously been saviours in the first and second world wars by helping Britain and her allies to victory which increased their self belief significantly.

     As the war progressed the U.S found that they weren’t able to win against the North Vietnamese army – commonly known as the Viet Cong. The tactics used by the Viet Cong were extremely different to those used by the American soldiers ...

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