Popular support from the American public acted as yet another reason for why the US invaded North Vietnam in 1965. After Korea many Americans believed that there country were unstoppable and that they could easily win another fight against communism and therefore get one up against the Russians. Johnson had to take this popular support as an opportunity for two reasons, firstly going to war would keep the population happy and secondly it is a lot easier to gain support for the war with the majority of the population pro-invasion.
The next factor that made the USA invade Vietnam is the Americans foreign policy. One reason why they got involved in Vietnam was because of S.E.A.T.O, South East Asia Treaty Organisation, which was established in September 1954. This was a pact that involved; Australia, Bangladesh, France, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, South Vietnam, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States, in which the military forces of each country would be coordinated o provide for the defence of other countries within the pact. As South Vietnam were under threat from North Vietnam the Americans felt that they had a duty to help defend their allies and invade North Vietnam.
Another reason why the USA got involved in Vietnam was because of their view of themselves being the “World Defenders”. Americans believe that they go round helping out other countries out of the kindness of their heart, like in Korea. So now they feel that it is South Vietnam who are in need of help and the way they can help them in by invading North Vietnam, so they did exactly that.
Another reason why the Americans invaded Vietnam in 1965 was because of NSC-68. The NSC-68 was released in April 1950; this document clearly stated the USA’s blueprints for actions against Communism as well as their views on Communists around the world. Even though the document was produced 15 years prior to the invasion of Vietnam the USA’s views had not changed and their plans of actions were similar. If the USA did not invade North Vietnam it would appear as if they were blowing hot air, as they were talking about the things they wanted to do to communism, but they never followed up with actions. By invading they are letting the communists know that they will stand up and fight for what they believe in.
Containment and the Domino Theory acted as another reason for invading Vietnam. The US’s policy has always been to contain communism and to not let it spread, otherwise the “Domino Theory” will occur, when if one country falls to communism so will the others around. Over the last few years prior to the invasion Ho Chi Minh was becoming more popular and so was communism. The US felt that they had to react quickly otherwise North Vietnam would take over South Vietnam, so in order to contain communism and stop the domino effect they had to invade Vietnam.
The USA wanted to make an example to Russia, this acted as another reason to invade Vietnam. Like in Korea, the US wanted to stop Communism in Vietnam to deliver a blow to the Soviets. As well as it being a blow to the Russians it would also set an example that the US will stand up against communism and protect what they feel is right. If the US did not do anything the Soviets could continue to spread Communism willingly, so the USA had to invade to show the Russians it was not going to be easy.
Another reason why America invaded in Vietnam was because of the legacy that was left behind after Korea. After the successful defence against communism in Korea in some unlikely circumstances the US believed that they could continue to protect against communism anywhere. When unrest came in Vietnam it seemed the obvious that the USA should invade as they were on a high from Korea and this time they believed they could do even better.
In 1960 the cold war was progressively getting worse and heating up, this could be seen as another reason why the US had to invade Vietnam. Leading up to the invasion of Vietnam tension was rising in the cold war the Berlin Wall and bay of Pigs in 1961, Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and the stand off at checkpoint Charlie in 1963. This tension made the US get involved in Vietnam as they felt that they needed to act now to give an example against communism and also to give them the upper hand.
The next factor that was significant in the US getting involved in Vietnam in 1965 was the state of South Vietnam. One reason that made them invade was the assassination of Diem in 1963. When Diem was assassinated South Vietnam began to rely on the US even more as they had nowhere else to turn to. With the US effectively in charge they thought in order to stabilise the country they had to wipe out the threat of communism from the north, so they had to invade North Vietnam.
Another reason why the USA got involved in Vietnam was because of the attack at the Brinks Hotel. On Christmas Eve 1964 the Vietcong terrorists attacked a officers quarters in Saigon, killing 2 Americans and injuring 60. This would be a reason for the USA attacking North Vietnam, as they cannot continue to do nothing as they are constantly being attacked.
Another excuse for further escalation came at Pleiku. This was an important command base for the AVRN and US troops. On February 1965 the camp was heavily attacked there were many injuries and casualties as many were caught off guard. This made the US attack North Vietnam as, like at the Brink’s Hotel, they couldn’t just do nothing forever eventually they would have to retaliate and fight back.
Over the years leading up to 1965 support of the communist North Vietnam leader Ho Chi Minh began to rise. Ho Chi Minh began producing large and effective army, known as the Vietminh, as well as organising guerrilla fighters to terrorise the south. This made the US get involved in Vietnam as eventually the communists would try and take over South Vietnam, the Americans had to act fast.
The last reason why the Americans invaded Vietnam was because a large division was forming in South Vietnam, with the majority of the population wanting Communism. The Americans had to try and lower communist support and to do this they had to fight the communists to show which is stronger. If the Americans did not fight South Vietnam would have eventually fallen to communism and the threat of communism escalating would have certain.
To conclude I feel that the most significant factor that made the US get involved in Vietnam in 1965 was the Foreign Policy factor. I believe that this factor is the most significant to the invasion as they were only doing this to stop the spread of communism and to stop the power of the Russians growing. Despite this I do feel that the Americans truly believed that the battle would be an easy victory, as they thought they were a third world country and that the power, support and wealth of the US would avail.
