The Vietnam War (also known as Second Indochina War) occurred from 1964 to 1975. Vietnam was under French colonial rule for many years. During World War 11 Japan invaded Vietnam. Not only were there French military personnel, there was Japanese military as well. Feed up with what was going on the Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh formed the League for Independence of Vietnam (LFIV). The LFIV was heavily influenced by communism of China and the Soviet Union.
When the war ended, and Japan left Ho Chi Minh saw his chance to rise with the LFIV. He took over areas in northern Vietnam, renaming it as Democratic Republic of Vietnam and presiding over that region. While that was happening in the north, Emperor Bao was …show more content…
By 1955, South Vietnam were allies with France, the USA, and other western allies. President Eisenhower supported Ngo Dinh Diem completely. The US funded equipment, weapons, and training for southern Vietnamese citizen wanting to fight in the war. The US played a large role in the Vietnam war because of its efforts to fight communism.
The Cold War served as a basis for the evolving conflict that eventually turned into the Vietnam/ Second Indochina War. The Cold War influenced the Vietnam war because of the problems between the United States and the Soviet Union. One area of Europe was on the side of communism and supported the Soviet Union and the other side of Europe supported the US. Most countries were nervous about anything that had communism after World War II.
Overall, tension from the Cold War, World War II and the 1st Indochina War contributed to the Vietnam war. Also, separation of communism in the north and anti-communism in the south contributed to tension. One the US supplied the machinery for war to South Vietnam that served as the leading factor that kicked of the physical war, everything else seemed like logs in a fire …show more content…
Emperor Bao Dai was another important figure at the time, serving in opposition of the extremist views in the north and being the leader of southern Vietnam. Ngo Dinh Diem was an anti-communist that really spoke up about issues going on at that time and it was when he was in power that the U.S became key partners with South Vietnam. Dwight Eisenhower is responsible for getting the US involved in the problems of Indochina. He also played a key role in developing South Vietnam (army and weapons). John F. Kennedy is responsible Strategic Hamlet Program, in efforts to help but not send more troops he also vowed to provide resources and advice. Although most US citizens wanted no involvement in the war, he tried to give both sides a little of what they wanted. Lyndon B Johnson served as president after JFK, he expanded the US involvement in Vietnam he is responsible for the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and Operation Rolling Thunder, which expanded air attacks. William Westmoreland was a military commandeered that reported under Lyndon Johnson. Westmoreland fought primarily on ground and contributed to the large civilian deaths in the area. Richard Nixon gained presidency, with promise to end the war using a plan called Vietnamization. This plan bought US soldiers home but, increased other war