The U.S. Enters the Vietnam War

1. Many neutral observers in Vietnam were critical of US policy. Explain why.

Many neutral observers in Vietnam were critical of US policy because the leader the American government supported, Ngo Dinh Diem, was strongly against communism and would exile any communist. Also, Diem was very disrespectful of the Budhist religion, which most of the peasants of Vietnam were Budhists. Since he was disrespectful of Budhism there were protests like in Source 33 where a Budhist priest lit himself on fire, they protested against the attacks the government made against the Budhist shrines. However, the United States continued to support him, like sending him over a billion dollars, until he was thrown out by his own army leaders. Unfortunately the government remained corrupt, but America still supported it because they were afraid of Ho Chi Minh coming into reign who is communists. Overall, the neural observers in Vietnam did not like what the United States was doing, they were intimidated, discriminated against, and faced a lot of violence. This lead to the people seeking liberation from the South, they became strong supporters of communism and Ho Chi Mihn.

2. Explain how US politicians would have defended their policies.

The US politicians would have defended their policies by saying that they were trying to contain communism and they didn't know of any one who was better than Ngo Dinh Diem. The US went to Diem because they knew he was strongly anti-communists and would kick out any communist from the country. They supported him immensely because the United States was desperate to keep communism from spreading. They believed in this "Domino effect" where they thought that the Soviets would just go from one country to another and spread communism, like one after another in dominoes. If the United States had known a better leader they probably would have supported that person than Diem, but this is just what they said and we don't know if they would have done that for sure.

3. The following events are not listed in correct date order. Place them in the correct chronological order. (Write the year inside the parenthesis, i.e. (1965). Then note the reason for each U.S. action, and how it brought the U.S. into deeper involvement in Vietnam.
The reasons you can choose from are: No direct involvement; financial support; political involvement; military involvement. Also, note what events triggered the increased involvement.

(1954) U.S. stops elections in Vietnam, reason: political involvement because Mihn was getting help from China and afraid of Vietnam becoming communist. To keep the 'no elections' going America had to stay there and make sure that Vietnam wasn't turning communist.
(1955) Formation of South Vietnam, reason: political involvement and financial support because again Mihn was anti-communist, would throw out any communist from the country, and US didn't want a communist leader and government in Vietnam. Brought America deeper becaues they had to continue to fund and support Mihn, which made them stay in Vietnam.
(1960) Viet Cong formed, reason: no direct involvement. Brought America deeper because they saw that VIetnam was turning communist.
(1960-1962) Viet Cong attacks on U.S. and South Vietnam bases, reason: no direct involvement. This action made by Viet Cong made America have to fight back and become militarily involved, which brought America deeper into the conflict because now they were basically fighting against them and about to get into a war.
(1962) JFK sends military advisers, reason: military involvement. The Viet Cong were attacking and the 'advisers' were there to fight back, which definitely brought America deeper into conflict because now they were fighting against some of the people.
(1962) Number of 'advisers' reaches over 11,500, reason: military involvement and political involvement. This was triggered by the Viet Cong air base incidenct and the attacks that they were making. President Kennedy sent more troops to fight against the Viet Cong and to 'contain' communism, or keep communism from spreading.
(1963) U.S. supports South Vietnam government after army overthrow Diem, reason: no direct involvement. However, the U.S. continued to support them because they were still anti-communists, which brought America deeper into conflict because they were still trying to contain communism and were still supporting them.
(1963) Assassination of JFK-Johnson becomes president, reason: no direct involvement, this isn't related to Vietnam but there was an affect. Once Johnson became president he declares war or starts a war in Vietnam, which immensely puts America deeper in conflict but now they are actually in the conflict.
(1964) Gulf of Tonkin Incident, reason: military involvement, the Vietnamese fired first but this made Congress angry and quickly passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution which gave all the decision making on what to do next militarily to Johnson. This brought America deeper into conflict because now America was really fighting back.
(1965) U.S. Marines land at Da Nang, reason: military involvement, this was the start of the Vietnam War. It was ignited after the Vietnamese fired on America in the Gulf of Tonkin, and this was the deepest America could go into the conflict because now they were actually in the conflict.

4. Choose two events that you think were critical in getting the U.S. involved in a war in Vietnam. Explain
your choice.

One event that lead to the U.S. getting involved in the Vietnam war was supporting Diem. When Diem was in reign there were serious protests and the U.S. didn't do anything, they just wanted to keep communism out. However, Diem and the support for Diem lead to Viet Cong and most of the people turning to Mihn and communism. After this there was no going back for America, they were too determined to keep communism out. Another evvent that lead the U.S. into getting involved din the Vietnam war was the Gulf of Tonkin incident. After this it set America off, they were determined to get rid of the pro-communists Viet Cong and Congress quickyl passed the Gulf Tonkin Resolution. This resolution gave of military power to President Johnson where obviously he would start a war with Vietnam, and he did. President Johnson sent troops to Da Nang which officially started the war.