Why did the United States become involved in Vietnam in the 1960's and 1970's?

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Vietnam War.

Coursework Question 1:

Why did the United States become involved in Vietnam in the 1960’s and 1970’s?

There are many reasons for American intervention in Vietnam whether it is political causes, economic causes or military causes. The Americans want to secure capitalism all over the world and get rid of communism. The French used to run Vietnam in a capitalist manner. After the Second World War France attempted to secure and control Vietnam once more. France refused to recognize the democratic republic of Vietnam that had been declared by Ho Chi Minh and fighting soon broke out against the Vietminh and the French troops. The Vietminh had difficulties coping with the French fighting power and technology. Their situation improved in 1949 after Mao Zedong’s communist victory over Chaing Kai-shek in China. The Vietminh now had a safer place were they could take their wounded and train their soldiers. General Giap was forced to organize a massive attack on the French at Dien Bien Phu. While plans were being organized Giap brought up members of the Vietminh from all over Vietnam. By the time the battle was ready to start Giap had over 70,000 soldiers surrounding Dien Bien Phu. This was five times the number of troops than the French. There was no way the French could win. The Vietminh pushed the French right back until they only occupied a small area of Dien Bien Phu. The French surrendered on May 7th 1954. In April 1954 the foreign ministers of the united states, the soviet union, Britain and France decided to meet in Geneva to see if they could bring about a peaceful solution to the conflicts. The following points were agreed: Vietnam would be divided temporarily in two along the 17th parallel – the north under Ho Chi Minh and the south under Ngo Dinh Diem. The Vietminh forces would withdraw from the south and the French would pull out of the north. And lastly, a date for the elections was fixed for July 1956.

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The United States were getting really concerned about the elections and whether communism (Ho Chi Minh) or capitalist (Ngo Dinh Diem) would win. A touch of corruption in the Diem government sparked a flame that would send US troops into Vietnam. The reasons why the US became involved in Vietnam are as followed: The domino theory – America was certain that if Vietnam fell into communism then the surrounding countries e.g. Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand would fall as well which means America will lose all its economic aspects and trades which would limit the amount of countries they can trade with, ...

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