How Accurate Is It to Say That Eisenhower and Kennedy Must Share Responsibility for the Escalation of Us Involvement in South-East Asia in the Years 1954-63

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How accurate is it to say that Eisenhower and Kennedy must share responsibility for the escalation of US involvement in south-east Asia in the years 1954-63? Throughout their history the Vietnamese people suffered foreign interference and conquest. This began with the early French interest in the 17th century and by the late 19th century France had conquered Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, which were collectively known as French Indo-China. This French capture was highly supported by the US government. Harry Truman is an important figure in relation to Vietnam as it was him who made the decision to oppose communism throughout the world. In relation to US support for France, the Truman administration concluded that the French were invaluable allies against Communism in both Indochina and Europe, and therefore deserving of American assistance. However, many articulate Vietnamese were unhappy with French rule, which resulted in a small Vietnamese nationalist group in espouse of Communism grown up in exile under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh. Consequently, Truman offered $10 million to support the French military effort, and established a US Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) in Saigon. This assistance then increased, as by the end of the year, the US had given France $100 million, along with aircraft, patrol boats, napalm bombs and ground combat machinery. This then led to the fight for independence against the French, as in August 1945, Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the independence of Vietnam, only to see the French return to re-establish their authority. Furthermore, 1952 saw the beginning of Eisenhower's presidency. His importance within the Vietnam war revolves around the fact that he continued and increased American involvement there. Initially, he continued Truman's policy of helping the French to fight communism in Vietnam. However, Ho Chi Minh's fight for

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