Why did the USA become increasingly involved in the war in Vietnam?

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Anthony Turner

                                Vietnam Coursework

Why did the USA become increasingly involved in the war in Vietnam?

The USA increased its involvement in the war for numerous reasons. Before 1954 USA only sent money to the French for its war against the Vietminh. After 1954 the USA also sent military aid and advisors to help France regain its former colonies. By 1963 America were directly involved. This was due to a number of reasons: Fears of communism spreading like it did in Eastern Europe, the ‘Domino Theory’ and the events at Tonking and Pleiku are some reasons for the USA becoming increasingly involved.

The French war took place between 1946-54. This was an effort by the French to take back Vietnam as a colony. It did so by firstly forcing the communists out of South Vietnam and taking over the northern city of Haiphong. During the war the French controlled the major cities, the Vietminh and the countryside. The Vietminh used their control of the countryside to their advantage. They used guerilla tactics to attack the French, which worked successfully. The war dragged on costing the French millions of francs. At this time the USA was not directly involved. They supplied the French with money and equipment. The USA did this because during the World War Two Japan occupied Vietnam. The Vietnamese successfully attacked the Japanese on the USA’s request. However USA thought that the Vietminh were communist and started supporting the South Vietnamese. France’s war with the Vietminh gave USA an opportunity to aid an attack on North Vietnam. During this period the USA’s involvement began in Vietnam.

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One major factor for USA becoming increasingly involved in the War in Vietnam was the threat of communism. The USA believed in the “Domino Theory”. This was the American idea that if one country becomes communist, others around it will follow and fall to communism. The USA was worried because countries near to Vietnam had already become communist. They didn’t want Vietnam to fall to communism because they believed that if Vietnam did become communist other countries surrounding would follow. As the USA realized that the “Domino Theory” could take place they started to increase their involvement.

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