The U.S. Enters the Vietnam War

1. Many neutral observers in Vietnam were critical of US policy. Explain why.
Many neutral observers in Vietnam were critical of the US policy because the Americans were not reducing their fear in Communism. The US was in a costly war in Vietnam which put a massive question mark over the policy of containment. The US was sending a good amount of money as well as many soldiers into Vietnam without any real reason. They were bombing helpless people and that it another reason why many neutral observers in Vietnam were critical of the US policy.


2. Explain how US politicians would have defended their policies.
The US politicians would have defended their policies because they believed if Vietnam fell into Communism, than so would alot of Asia. Americans saw what was happening with communism as the "Domino Theory". If Vietnam fell into communism the US feared that alot of other Asian countries would too like, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Burma and maybe even India might fall for communism also. America wanted to do anything that could to prevent communism from spreading. The troops invading Vietnam showed their ignorance tho of the region of Vietnam, and the people.


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.


(1954) U.S. stops elections in Vietnam-the US stopped elections in Vietnam because they feared the spread of communism. They feared that the domino theory would come into play and the US was scared of what would happen if it kept growing. The US was getting involved with the viet gov by stopping elections
(1955) Formation of South Vietnam- the Americans helped Ngo Ding Diem to set up the Republic of South Vietnam. They supported him because he was bitterly anti-communists and he was prepared to imprison or exile communists. He refused to hold elections, even for local councils. North and South were slip into two countries because of the constant fighting and disagreement between communists and anti communists. The US split them so it would stop communism from spreading and making sure that more contries stayed nationalized.
(1960) Viet Cong attacks on U.S. and South Vietnam bases- the viet cong attacked American air force and supply bases as well as the south Vietnamese gov buildings, forces and officials. The involvement was triggered by the formation of the viet cong and their ideas of communism.
(1960) Viet Cong formed-started a guerrilla war against the South Vietnamese government. These fighters attacked South Vietnamese government forces, officials and buildings, gradually making the country side unsafe for government forces. They attacked American air force and supply bases.
(1962) Number of 'advisers' reaches over 11,500-president Kennedy was sending military personnel, "advisers" to fight the Viet Cong. The tension between north and south vietnam increased and so did American involvement. However, Kennedy was determined that the US would not "blunder into war, unclear about aims or how to get out again"
(1962) JFK sends military advisers-JFK sent military personnel or "advisers" to Vietnam to fight the Viet Cong. It was a sign that viet cong was strong and and US assistance was in need.
(1963) Assassination of JFK - Johnson becomes president-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. President Kennedy was not as prepared as Johnson and was more hesitant that Johnson also.
(1963) U.S. supports South Vietnam government after army overthrow Diem- the US supported south Vietnam government because they were anti communist. Although they didn't have the best leaders they had no one better. His decisions were not working and he was soon kicked out.
(1964) Gulf of Tonkin Incident-North Vietnamese patrol boats opened fire on US ships in the Guld of Tonkin. The US congress passed the TOnkin Guld Resolution. The resolution gave Lyndon Johnson the power to "take all necessary measure to prevent further aggression and achieve peace and security". that meant that he could take the US into a full scale war if necessary, and it soon was the case. America was not at war in Vietnam.
(1965) U.S. Marines land at Da Nang-US marines, combat troops rather than advisers, came ashore at Da Nang. America was at war in vietnam. North Viet patrol boats opened fire on US ships.


4. Choose two events that you think were critical in getting the U.S. involved in a war in Vietnam. Explain
your choice.
The Gulf of Tonkin incident- This was critical in getting the US involved in war because Northern Vietnamese people and ships were fighting against the US. Lives were now being worried about and at risk but also being threatened. Johnson had to do something and congress agrees to take desperate measures to conserve peace. They went to war and this was a big step for why US got involved in the war in Vietnam.
JFK sending troops into Vietnam also was another big step in why the US got involved with war in Vietnam. JFK sending the army into Vietnam to fight the Viet Cong just sends "war". The fighting became more and more because people were dying and there was more fighting. A war eventually happened because of it.