Vietnam Research Project

Introduction

The Vietnam War was the longest and most unpopular war in American

history, the toll they paid wasn't just monetary, it cost the people

involved dearly physically and mentally. Causing suffering, sorrow,

and national turmoil because of bad press meant that Americans were

divided. Which is why this project will be split into questions, which

means I can concentrate on one aspect of the Vietnam War at a time. I

shall endeavour to delve into to these questions, answering as best I

can (with the help of varied historical resources from the Internet,

books etc). Which leads me on to tell you the aims of this project,

which are:

1. To RESEARCH, SELECT and PRESENT information from a variety of

historical sources: narrative accounts, maps, photos, eyewitness

accounts; government documents, statistics, etc.

2. To make critical use of historical sources to answer specific

historical questions.

3. To understand and be able to explain the causes, key features and

consequences of the Vietnam War for America, and her status as a

superpower.

4. To recognize and explain different interpretations of the conflict.

Why did the USA become involved in Vietnam?

Vietnam was originally a French colony, during the Second World War it

was taken form the French, and consequently after WW2 it was returned

to the French. Shortly after all this happened the French became

locked in a struggle with a communist machine, the Vietminh (The

Vietnam Revolutionary League). In 1950 the French asked the USA for

some kind of support, basically they wanted some military might behind

them because the communist threat was too large for them alone. By

1953 it was found that the USA was paying 70% of the costs

($300,000,00).

It was in the USA's interest to stop areas in the Far East falling

under the influence of communism, as the Cold War was at its peak late

in the 1940s- early 1950s, which meant another possible Korea in the

eyes of the US government. Gradually the US became more and more

involved, which meant that they sent in more aid in the hope of

stopping some if not all investments from being lost. Around 1954 the

French left, but this didn't deter the Americans who continued to

support South Vietnam, even when Diem seized control. Politicians in

the USA believed that if one country fell to communism, its neighbours

would follow like dominoes, (which is why it's called the 'Domino

Theory').

In John Kennedy's book, (which he had written in 1956) he said that he

was positive about South Vietnam being the key to freedom for the

entire region of South East Asia. Even though South Vietnam was

anything but free under Diem who ruled like a dictator. It was

actually Eisenhower who had the scope to send US military advisors to

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help the army of South Vietnam, however these advisors didn't

physically take part in the combat. When Kennedy became president (in

1961), the number of advisors was increased form 700-15000. Firstly

because Kennedy had been discredited for the failure at the Bay of

Pigs, secondly he needed some way in which he could retaliate for the

construction of the Berlin Wall.

By 1963 Diem's control of South Vietnam was so corrupt; that he was

constantly being challenged or facing opposition, several Buddhist

monks even burned themselves (for more information as to ...

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