Question

How did the Cold War affect American decisions regarding Vietnam?

Answer 1

Hint:
- After World War II, the Cold War was a time of diplomatic turmoil between the Soviet Union and the United States, as well as their respective allies, the Eastern and Western Blocs.
- In anticipation of a Soviet invasion, the United States formed the NATO military alliance in 1949 and coined the word "containment" to describe their global strategy toward Soviet power.

Complete answer:
The Vietnam War was a direct result of the Cold War and was aimed at stopping the spread of communism. The domino theory, which argued that if one country falls under the control of Communism, the following countries would eventually follow, was used by the US to justify its military involvement in Vietnam. The aim was to prevent the Communists from gaining control of Southeast Asia. Fears of communist violence and expansion bolstered the case for a substantial US presence in Vietnam.

The United States' role in Vietnam was widely despised at home. Fearing the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, President Lyndon B. Johnson devoted even more troops to the conflict. As the Cold War raged across the world, the US hardened its stance against any Soviet allies, and by 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower had vowed his unwavering support for Diem and South Vietnam.

The Soviet Union finally fell apart due to American economic dominance. The soviet union and the people's republic of china were the supporters of North Vietnam. Vietnam was divided into southern and northern in peace negotiations at Geneva. The US was against the communists.

Note: The Vietnam War claimed the lives of over 3 million people, including over 58,000 Americans, with Vietnamese civilians accounting for more than half of those killed. As of January 15, 2018, 1,601 American soldiers who served in Vietnam were still missing. With covert military aid and a psychological warfare operation in the South, the United States entered Vietnam in June 1954, well before the Geneva Accords were signed.