The U.S. was attempting to keep Communism from spilling over from North Vietnam to South Vietnam (one of the other posters referenced the "Domino Theory," which suggested that if one country became Communist, another could become Communist, and so on and so forth, like toppling dominoes).
We first got involved in the 50s by providing relatively small amounts of economic and military aid to the French, who were involved in fighting in Vietnam before we were. When the French failed and a Communist government in North Vietnam arose, Eisenhower sent "advisors" to South Vietnam to train their military to resist the North's.
In the 60s, JFK sent Green Berets/special operations forces clandestinely into Vietnam to train counterinsurgency forces there. By the time JFK was assassinated, we had over 10,000 advisors ("advisors" generally equals "special forces") in Vietnam, and over 100 Americans had already been killed.
In 1964, the Gulf of Tonkin incident occurred in waters adjacent to North Vietnam, where an American warship and a North Vietnamese vessel exchanged gunfire. There was controversy as to who shot first, but it eventually led to a push for Congress to approve the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which allowed for further U.S. military escalation into Vietnam. There was no formal declaration of war, and military forces just kept getting incrementally larger and larger until their peak in the late 60s.
Vietnam
The battle of Dien Bien Phu led to the direct involvement of the US in Vietnam in the hopes of curbing communist expansionist policies .
The collection of secret government documents about the Vietnam War was known as the Pentagon Papers. Released in 1971, they revealed that the U.S. government had misled the public about the scope and nature of its involvement in Vietnam, including the likelihood of success. The publication fueled anti-war sentiment and led to increased public skepticism regarding U.S. foreign policy, ultimately contributing to a shift in U.S. involvement and a push towards de-escalation in Vietnam.
American involvement in Vietnam actually dates back to 1953, at the request of the French. The Gulf of Tonkin Incident is what led to an escalation of US involvement in 1965.
France's involvement in the Vietnam War stemmed from its desire to reestablish colonial control over Indochina after World War II. Following Japan's occupation during the war, the Vietnamese nationalist movement, led by the Viet Minh under Ho Chi Minh, sought independence. France's attempt to regain its former colonies led to the First Indochina War (1946-1954), which ultimately set the stage for increased conflict and U.S. involvement in the region, culminating in the Vietnam War. The struggle was rooted in the broader context of decolonization and Cold War tensions.
The TET offensive of 1968 is considered by many to have been the beginning of the US's end of involvement in Vietnam.
Vietnam
The battle of Dien Bien Phu led to the direct involvement of the US in Vietnam in the hopes of curbing communist expansionist policies .
The collection of secret government documents about the Vietnam War was known as the Pentagon Papers. Released in 1971, they revealed that the U.S. government had misled the public about the scope and nature of its involvement in Vietnam, including the likelihood of success. The publication fueled anti-war sentiment and led to increased public skepticism regarding U.S. foreign policy, ultimately contributing to a shift in U.S. involvement and a push towards de-escalation in Vietnam.
American involvement in Vietnam actually dates back to 1953, at the request of the French. The Gulf of Tonkin Incident is what led to an escalation of US involvement in 1965.
the Vietnam War. Despite implementing significant domestic policies like the Great Society, his decision to escalate U.S. involvement in Vietnam led to a prolonged and costly war that resulted in a high number of American casualties. This led to widespread protests and public discontent, causing Johnson's popularity to decline significantly.
Vietnam was part of the cold war.
France's involvement in the Vietnam War stemmed from its desire to reestablish colonial control over Indochina after World War II. Following Japan's occupation during the war, the Vietnamese nationalist movement, led by the Viet Minh under Ho Chi Minh, sought independence. France's attempt to regain its former colonies led to the First Indochina War (1946-1954), which ultimately set the stage for increased conflict and U.S. involvement in the region, culminating in the Vietnam War. The struggle was rooted in the broader context of decolonization and Cold War tensions.
Communist infiltration into South Vietnam.
which resolution allowed president johnson to increase us involment in vietnam
One major difference between the Korean War and the Vietnam War was the nature of international involvement. The Korean War saw significant direct military engagement from United Nations forces, primarily led by the United States, in a clear effort to repel North Korean aggression. In contrast, the Vietnam War involved a prolonged and complex conflict where the U.S. sought to prevent the spread of communism in South Vietnam, facing a guerrilla warfare strategy from the Viet Cong and heavy involvement from North Vietnam, but without the same level of international coalition. This led to different strategies, public perceptions, and outcomes in each conflict.
it led to increased u.s. involvement in vietnam - apex