How the Vietnam War Started

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How the Vietnam War started The Vietnam War was the longest and most unpopular war in the American history. It was also the only war that the U.S. lost. The whole war for Vietnam was for independence, but for the U.S. it was about stopping communism, and so the war itself started due to the two rival governments, the French occupation, and the interruption of foreign powers. A conflict was sparked by the two rival governments that were present in Vietnam. One government was led by a communist leader, Ho Chi Minh, who wanted to unite the country and help spread communism. His military forces were referred to as the Viet Minh. The second government was led by Ho Chi Minh's democratic rival, Bao Dai. He was placed there by the French, who at the time occupied Vietnam, to help stop communism. Public support was gained by the Viet Minh when they fought off the French. When Bao Dai finally got a partly independent Vietnam in 1948, it was too late to restore the French investment in Vietnam. Many of Vietnam's affairs were interfered by the French, and so the French and Vietnam were led to a bloody conflict. For example, Bao Dai was placed into the Vietnamese government by the French who did not like Ho Chi Minh. Since the Viet Minh did not like the French, they fought against the French. The Viet Minh had actually been planning to attack the French by taking over and attacking all of their garrisons. This whole coup was executed in a swift blitzkrieg-like manner. The French were crippled by the powerful attack from the Viet Minh, and now the French were determined to get their power back, so they turned to Bao Dai, who had a plan for an independent Vietnam. The U.S. wanted to support the French, but backed out due to the imperialism that seemed apparent from the position the French were in. Confusion ensued and all of these events played into the hands of
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