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U.S. History. Origins of the Vietnam War. Background. While the U.S. and Soviet Union never fought each other during the Cold War, the U.S. often fought wars against communists in other countries. Part of the U.S. policy of containment .
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U.S. History Origins of the Vietnam War
Background • While the U.S. and Soviet Union never fought each other during the Cold War, the U.S. often fought wars against communists in other countries. • Part of the U.S. policy of containment. • The government used fear of communism to launch wars in far away places. • Two notable wars include: • The Korean War (1950-1953) • The Vietnam War (1955-1975)
Geography • Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia. • Rich in natural resources such as rubber, rice, tin, and minerals. • The French colonized Vietnam and controlled both its resources and people. • Some wealthy Vietnamese benefited from colonialism, but most grew more impoverished.
Post-WWII/Cold War • Following WWII, France tried to regain control over Vietnam, but… • Colonialism was dying worldwide • Led by Ho Chi Minh, many Vietnamese demanded their independence from France. • The U.S. faced a difficult decision: It supported decolonization but was against communism (Minh was a communist).
What did the U.S. decide to do? • The U.S. supported France in its effort to control Vietnam and resist Minh’s communist movement. • Preventing the spread of communism is more important than promoting independence. • $2.6 billion in military aid to France between 1950 and 1954 • The U.S. felt that if Vietnam fell to communists, then other nearby nations would also fall. This is known as the domino theory. • In 1954, the French lost control of Vietnam.
Escalation of the Vietnam War • Following French control, Vietnam was divided into communist North Vietnam (led by Minh) and anti-communist South Vietnam (led by Diem). • Diem was unpopular with the people of Vietnam and only remained in power because of the support of the U.S. • Under the leadership of President Kennedy, the U.S. began sending “advisers” to Vietnam in 1961. • Under President Johnson, the U.S. began to send large numbers of troops to Vietnam.
The “start” of the war • By 1965, the U.S. was involved in a full-scale war against North Vietnam and the Vietcong (guerilla soldiers in S. Vietnam) • Many Americans questioned why the U.S. was involved in this war. • Our examination of the Vietnam War will focus on resistance to the war as well as the impact of media on public perception of the Vietnam war.
