USAs Involvement in the Vietnam War Essay - 1799 Words

USAs Involvement in the Vietnam War The USA had a colossal hatred for the strong spread of communism that seemed to sweep across Eastern Asia. Although Vietnam, part of Indochina in South-East Asia was many thousands of miles away from the USA, due to obsessive paranoia and the threat of its national interest, America felt threatened adequately enough to fight a war there. The USA’s suspicion that the communists were taking over the world was exceptionally strong. Their explanation for their most paranoid attitude lay in the Korean War, the communist take-over of China, the Cold War and also the communist success over the French in Vietnam. The USA remained indirectly involved until 1965.†¦show more content†¦The earlier policy of isolationism was now over; ‘containment’ was underway and it hoped to put an end to the spread. The USA was determined that no more countries were to turn communist. Also ‘The Marshall Plan’ was set up. Marshall aid was offered to many countries inclu ding communist ones. The aid included goods, loans, food and advisers. By helping communist countries also, it could perhaps advise and persuade the benefits of capitalism, so not only was the USA using the method of containment, they were attempting to ‘switch’ those countries already made communist. 1949 was a appalling year for the USA. The USA was no longer the only nuclear power as the USSR had exploded its very own atom bomb. Also, although the USA has spent around $2 billion supporting anti-communist countries - China had become communist. This worried America immeasurably. The Vietminh, regardless of assistance from China, were forced back from 1950-1951 when General De Lattre De Tassigny inflicted a series of defeats on the Vietminh. The USA supported the French as their opponents were communists. If the French won, Vietnam wouldn’t be communist. The USA began becoming indirectly involved by providing financial aid; $500 million a year was put into the French war effort. Also the USA helped the French set up a non-communist government in the south of the country.Show MoreRelatedTo what extent can the Tet Offensive of 1968 be described as a key turning point in the Vietnam War in the Years 1963-73? (30 marks)842 Words   |  4 PagesTo what extent can the Tet Offensive of 1968 be described as a key turning point in the Vietnam War in the Years 1963-73? (30 marks) The Tet Offensive could be described as a key turning point because it shook USA’s confidence in winning the war, both sides changed their tactics and also because it led to a decrease of support for the war in the USA. However there were many other key turning points such as the Gulf of Tonkin incident, the attack at Pleiku and the Battle of Ac Bac. Overall theRead MoreUSAs Military Involvement in Korea Essay1148 Words   |  5 PagesUSAs Military Involvement in Korea The USAs military involvement in the Korean War is often seen as Americas desire to defend democracy. This argument is often difficult to refute considering economically there was little to gain from Korea and there was a certain risk of coming into conflict with the USSR. 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