The U.S. Enters the Vietnam War

1. Many neutral observers in Vietnam were critical of US policy. Explain why.
The US made the policy that prevented the elections from taking place because it feared that the Communists would win. Many neutral observers in Vietnam were critical of US policy because Ho Chi Minh, he inspired the Vietnamese people to fight for an independent Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh was a communist, and the United States feared that possibly 80 per cent of the population would have voted for the communist as their leader. The Vietnam people were very critical of the policy preventing these elections from taking place, because Ho Chi Minh imspired them. Also, the United States methods and policies showed their ignorance of the Vietnamese people and the region.

2. Explain how US politicians would have defended their policies.
US politicians would have defended their policies by advocating their "domino theory". President Eisenhower and his Secretary of State JF Dulles were convinced that China and the USSR were planning to spread Communism throughout Asia. If Vietnam fell to Communism, then Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, and possibly even India might also fall- just like a row of dominoes.

3. The following events are not listed in correct date order. Place them in the correct chronological order. (Write the year inside the parenthesis, i.e. (1965). Then note the reason for each U.S. action, and how it brought the U.S. into deeper involvement in Vietnam.

The reasons you can choose from are: No direct involvement; financial support; political involvement; military involvement. Also, note what events triggered the increased involvement.

(1963) Assassination of JFK - Johnson becomes president: political involvement-> His successor Lyndon Johnson, was more prepared than Kennedy to commit the USA to a full-scale conflict in Vietnam to prevent the spread of Communism.

(1955) Formation of South Vietnam- political involvement-> Ngo Dinh Diem set up the Republic of South Vietnam, who treated the Vietnamese peasants with
contempt. He was a Christian and showed little respect for the Buddhist religion of most Vietnamese peasants. Diem's regime was also extremely corrupt. Therefor causing the people to overthrow him, and anger the Vietnamese people even more triggering increased involvement.

(1964) Gulf of Tonkin Incident: military involvement-> The Tonkin Gulf Resolution was passed which gave Lyndon Johnson the power to 'take all necessary measures to prevent further aggression and achieve peace and security'. It effectively meant that
he could take the USA into a full-scale war if he felt it was necessary.

(1962) Number of 'advisers' reaches over 11,500: military involvement-> Increased American involvement in Vietnam.

(1962) JFK sends military advisers: military involvement-> JFK sent the advisers to fight the Viet Cong, therefore in 1963 and 1964 tension between North and South
Vietnam increased.

(1965) U.S. Marines land at Da Nang: military involvement-> US marines, combat troops rather than advisers, came ashore at Da Nang. America was at war in Vietnam.


(1954) U.S. stops elections in Vietnam: political involvement-> Stopping elections in Vietnam angered the people because now they could not elect Ho Chi Minh, somebody they deeply admired.

(1963) U.S. supports South Vietnam government after army overthrow Diem: no direct involvement-> The actions of these anti-Communist governments increased support among the ordinary peasants for the Communist-led National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam. This movement was usually referred to as the Viet Congo which later on attacked American air force bases getting the US even more involved.

(1960) Viet Cong attacks on U.S. and South Vietnam bases: military involvement-> This would involve the US in the Vietnam even more because they would need to fight back.

(1960) Viet Cong formed: no direct involvement-> Viet Cong later on attacked the United States American air forces which would cause the US more involvement.

4. Choose two events that you think were critical in getting the U.S. involved in a war in Vietnam. Explain.
The two event that I think were critical in getting the US involved in a war in Vietnam would be the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, and the US Marines landing at Da Nang. The Guld of Tonkin Incident gave Lyndon Johnson the power to 'take all necessary measures to prevent further aggression and achieve peace and security'. Meaning that he could take the USA into a full-scale war if he felt it was necessary. Increasing the chances of the US getting involved in the war. Next, when the US Marines landed at Da Nang, America was finally at war in Vietnam.