Historians normally "begin" the date in 1961.
Vietnam: Why we fought: to stop communist aggression (domino theory), agreed to help French fight North Vietnam because we needed help with the soviet union What we wanted: stop spread of communism in Asia and Europe What we got: nothing
Fort Sumter, South Carolina
South Vietnam
Technically between North Vietnam and South Vietnam. Actually between the US and North Vietnam.
The NVA and ARVN fought in South Vietnam. The only fighting taking place in North Vietnam was between jet aircraft (the air war).
Most Historians like to use 1961 as the starting point for the war. The Vietnam War was NOT a civil war. A civil war is two armies from the same nation fighting itself. North Vietnam & South Vietnam were separate countries. They were never one country called Vietnam until 1975.
North Vietnam/VC vs allies
North
1. The US is not at war with Iraq. 2. The US was at war with North Vietnam.
Air war North Vietnam. Ground war South Vietnam.
This intended to establish peace in Vietnam and an end to the Vietnam War. It ended direct U.S. military combat, and temporarily stopped the fighting between North and South Vietnam.
The United States lost the will to continue fighting. The Vietnamese, who were defending their own country, were willing to fight forever. The North Vietnamese saw no distinction between North and South Vietnam. Ed Vietnam War Veteran 1968-69