This meant that having the in state building showed that the US wanted to be involved in the Communism situation and Vietnam was the closest place to be. Eisenhower made Vietnam to be a victim of the Cold War as the Cold War had increased the worries about communism. The Geneva Accords had stated that no foreign troops or alliances were allowed in Vietnam the US defied this by making alliances with France and attempted to make alliances with Britain, but they didn’t want to get involved in the war. This could suggest that the war was Eisenhower’s because if he had signed the Geneva Accords then Vietnam wouldn’t have split and there would have been no war. Once
The American Government leaders were afraid that the Communist forces would take control over Vietnam. If Vietnam fell, it would then lead to nation after nation falling to Communism. The United States strongly opposes to the political and economic system that Communism encompasses. After fighting the war for independence from France, Vietnam was split in half in 1954. After France withdrew from Vietnam, the Vietnamese Communists took over control of North Vietnam.
From 1954 to 1960 the U.S. sent a few number of troops into Vietnam to help resist the Communist, but little was made of it. In 1960 John F. Kennedy became president in the U.S. and things began to turn for the nations involvement in Vietnam. Originally President Kennedy did not want to get involved with the conflict in Vietnam. Prior to his election President Kennedy said, “Should I become President, I will not risk American lives by permitting any other nation to drag us into the wrong war at the wrong place at the wrong time through an unwise commitment that is unwise militarily” (Duiker 55). At the time, the United States was in the midst of its own conflict with Russia, which was called the Cold War.
While the United States was nervous of Communism consuming the entire globe. President Eisenhower believed in the “domino effect”, meaning that if you fight and succeed in stopping communism in one country others are sure to rise, stand and follow suit. China became a communist country in 1949, therefore, the United States forked out 2 billion dollars to support anti-communism. The Truman Doctrine was written and put in to effect stating that the United States would do any and everything in its power to put an end to communism spreading to any further country. Following a victory over a battle with the French, North Vietnam in 1954, set ways into communism and in turn proceeded to try and reign over the now divided Southern Vietnam.
Until the Czech coup, the emphasis in Washington had been on economic containment of Communism, primarily through the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan and a heavy reliance on atomic power as a shield to support it. Truman did not intervene with the coup as they saw it as internal affairs and the west may have of resented it because they could not of done too much with containment. Another reason why the USA may not have of been involved was to avoid war with Russia. Truman responded to the crisis
The United States was able to fight communism without having to put U.S forces in action, with support to anti-soviet rebels. In the short term, this proved successful of removing communistic powers and formation of U.S-friendly governments. However, the long term goals of were hampered, as governments that formed usually involved a militaristic regime or total anarchy. It also left many people to resent the United States and later opposed to U.S policies. Especially in Afghanistan, where the U.S cut and ran after the Soviet defeat, not willing to establish some sort of democracy in the country.
Nixon’s main argument is that he won the war in Vietnam but Congress lost it by cutting off aid to South Vietnam. Nixon says his plan all along was to give South Vietnam the tools to their own victory because American combat troops could not win the conflict for them. This would also enable the withdrawal of American troops already stationed in Vietnam. Soon afterwards once the Paris Peace Accords were signed and all troops were out of Vietnam, Nixon felt confident in his strategy. Soon enough though, the North broke its agreement and the U.S had to determine whether or not to start helping the South once again.
The French were not involved in this war but a played a role in how and why it started. After World War II the French had control of Vietnam, The French rule was harsh and once Ho Chi Minh came to rule he tried for independence from French and as this happened communism came about. The U.S.A was worried about the spread of communism in Asia and believed that they too should have a democratic government. What sparked the interest of the United States was the “Domino Theory” which meant that the goal of communism was
His choice to put missiles in Turkey and his choice to put the United States in a war with Vietnam, a war that could not be won does not show a person trying to abolish war. It just shows a man focused on ending communism. Therefore, my conclusion is that President John F. Kennedy should not receive the Noble Peace
The South was underequipped and outclassed in everything industrially. They’re only hope of taking a military advantage was support from European countries. However, the connections were cut when the North blockaded the South and when the North incited the European public to support the North’s effort preventing European interference i.e. the Anaconda Plan. Although there was a high morale to serving the Confederacy and to destroy the Union cause, they didn’t have the materials to do so.