Why did the USA become involved in Vietnam?

Vietnam Coursework Assignment – Part One

Before the Second World War, the region between India and China which now includes Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos was part of the French Empire. During the Second World War, however, Japan controlled Vietnam. After the war, the French tried to take over again but a communist group, the Vietminh wanted independence. During this war of independence the USA became involved as well. This essay will look at the reasons of why they did.

The first reason why the USA became involved in Vietnam was the Domino theory. President Eisenhower first used the term in 1954 to justify US involvement in South East Asia, particularly Vietnam. The Domino theory was first evident in Eastern Europe when Stalin was taking over the Eastern European countries one by one with communism. However, it grew more serious when China fell to communism in 1949, closely followed by North Korea in 1950. There was a fear that communism would spread all over the world. The Domino Theory was a long term cause of why the USA became involved in Vietnam because the term was invented long before the Vietnam war.

A second reason why the USA became involved in Vietnam was the US policy of containment which is why Truman supported the French in Vietnam even though he did not believe in colonisation. Also, he did this as soon as China fell to communism in 1949. Containment was the backbone of US foreign policy to stop the spread of communism to other regions of the world and give economic help to any country resisting communism. Containment was put to practice in Europe due to communism in Eastern Europe by Marshall Aid and Truman Doctrine. The doctrine helped launch containment and Marshall Aid strengthened Western Europe against the threat of communism. This reason is linked to the Domino Theory as Truman supported the French in the hope that communism would not spread into Vietnam and hence preventing it from spreading to the rest of the world. Furthermore, this is a long term cause as containment was introduced even before the Domino Theory.

A third reason why the USA became involved in Vietnam was when Eisenhower supported Diem’s corrupt government in the South. Until this point it was a civil war between the communist north and the capitalist south. Again, he did this because of the Domino Theory and so that communism would not spread. Diem used US troops to stay in power and did not have any elections for fear of a communist win. This is a short term cause because unlike the other causes, it did not happen a long time before the event.

The fourth reason why the USA became ...

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The fourth reason why the USA became involved in Vietnam was Kennedy’s foreign policy. In this he wanted to protect the free world from communism,' The USA stands for freedom and God while communism stands for ruthless godless tyranny'. Due to this he had sent 16 500 US troops and advisors to Vietnam by 1962. Moreover, he increased the budget of anti-communism activities around the world. The U2 incident, Berlin Wall, and the Cuban Missile crisis all increased tension between communism and capitalism and all these on top of Vietnam helped to increase determination to fight communism. Kennedy's foreign policy could be linked to containment as he increased the budget of anti communist activity to try and stop communism spreading. This is a short term cause because his foreign policy did not happen a long time before he sent his troops/advisors to Vietnam.

A fifth reason why the USA became involved in Vietnam was the 'Great Society'. This was the domestic program of US president Lyndon. B. Johnson and it was described in one of Johnson’s speeches as one which federally sponsored programs which would improve the quality of life for all American’s, especially the poor people of America. In order to get money to put this program into action he agreed and made deals with those in congress who wanted to escalate the war in Vietnam. This is a short term cause of why the USA became involved in Vietnam because it was introduced during the time the war was taking place.

A no less significant reason for why the USA became involved in Vietnam was the Gulf of Tonkin incident. In August 1964, an alleged attack was made on US ships in the Gulf of Tonkin. The entire event was purposely misconstrued when presented to Congress and the public by President Johnson and his administration. It led to the escalation of U.S. involvement in Vietnam and became the point where the U.S. made a large commitment. This cause is the trigger to why the USA became involved in Vietnam as it gave Johnson the excuse he needed to get heavily involved with Vietnam.

A final reason for why the USA became involved in Vietnam was President Johnson’s foreign policy. In this he stated that he was not going to lose South East Asia to communism so he escaltated the war, ‘If I left that war and let the communists take over South Vietnam, then I would be seen as a coward and my nation seen as an appeaser.’ If he pulled out he would have been accused of losing Vietnam, rather that doing that he escalated the war. This is once again linked to the policy of containment as like Kennedy, his foreign policy aims to try and stop communism from spreading any further. This is a short term cause because his decision to escalate the war happened during the war in Vietnam was going on.

After considering all the the reasons for why the USA became involved in Vietnam I think the most important reason was the policy of containment. I think this because containment is linked to most of the reasons above and is the backbone of US foreign policy, for example, Kennedy and Johnson’s foreign policies are both linked with containment as they both take all necessary steps to try and stop the spread of communism. The USA could not make the already existing communist countries to change but it could stop communism from spreading and stop it in its tracks. It did not want to be the country that allowed communism to win, therefore, using its policy of containment it took every possible route to weaken and demolish it, which is why USA became so involved in fighting communism in Vietnam.

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