Explain why US policy towards Vietnam changed during the presidencies of Eisenhower and Kennedy (10 marks).
The US policy towards Vietnam changed during the presidencies of Eisenhower and Kennedy. After the Secound World War, US leaders desperately wanted to stop the spread of communism. Vietnam was temporarily divided into North and South; North Vietnam was ruled by communist Ho Chi Minh and South Vietnam was run by anti-communist Diem. The US was incredibly afraid of communism and leaders felt they had to do everything they could to stop it spreading.
In February 1954, President Eisenhower refused to commit American troops to the Franco-Vietnamese War. He stated, "I cannot conceive of a greater tragedy for America than to get heavily involved now in an all-out war in any of those regions." By April, however, his administration revisited the question of direct intervention in the war. Although he …show more content…
These advisors were to help Diem to train a South Vietnamese army. In 1955 ton 1960 the US had around 1,500 military advisors assisting Diem to establish an effective army. However, when Kennedy became president in 1961, the number of these 'advisors' dramatically changed. Kennedy was shocked when he found out that membership to the National Liberation Front had increased by 300% in two years. One of his first actions was to increase the number of advisors training in the South Vietnamese Army. There were 16,000 'advisors' in Vietnam by 1963. It was obvious that these were not simply 'advisors' anymore.
In conclusion, the US policy towards Vietnam really changed! The USA got much more involved in Vietnam when Kennedy became president. They became increasingly worried about Ho Chi Minh becoming president, and making Vietnam communist, and therefore got more involved to prevent this. They were worried that they'd lose their status as the world's most powerfull country if communism grew in
The US policy towards Vietnam changed during the presidencies of Eisenhower and Kennedy. After the Secound World War, US leaders desperately wanted to stop the spread of communism. Vietnam was temporarily divided into North and South; North Vietnam was ruled by communist Ho Chi Minh and South Vietnam was run by anti-communist Diem. The US was incredibly afraid of communism and leaders felt they had to do everything they could to stop it spreading.
In February 1954, President Eisenhower refused to commit American troops to the Franco-Vietnamese War. He stated, "I cannot conceive of a greater tragedy for America than to get heavily involved now in an all-out war in any of those regions." By April, however, his administration revisited the question of direct intervention in the war. Although he …show more content…
These advisors were to help Diem to train a South Vietnamese army. In 1955 ton 1960 the US had around 1,500 military advisors assisting Diem to establish an effective army. However, when Kennedy became president in 1961, the number of these 'advisors' dramatically changed. Kennedy was shocked when he found out that membership to the National Liberation Front had increased by 300% in two years. One of his first actions was to increase the number of advisors training in the South Vietnamese Army. There were 16,000 'advisors' in Vietnam by 1963. It was obvious that these were not simply 'advisors' anymore.
In conclusion, the US policy towards Vietnam really changed! The USA got much more involved in Vietnam when Kennedy became president. They became increasingly worried about Ho Chi Minh becoming president, and making Vietnam communist, and therefore got more involved to prevent this. They were worried that they'd lose their status as the world's most powerfull country if communism grew in