America’s Role in the Vietnam War

America’s Role in the Vietnam War

Communism was spreading in parts of Asia, including Vietnam for many years. The first to fight extensively in Vietnam were the French. During their fights (circa 1950’s) the Americans were not involved. As the French were defeated and withdrew, war continued in Vietnam between the south and the north without any American involvement. To America this was a locate war and the Americans were not prepared to risk their young in a foreign war. This was very much in line with their policy of isolationism.

It was only with the American fear of the “domino” effect under President Kennedy (and Johnson) that America became interested. The “domino” effect states Khrushchev was spreading that communism by taking over the world one country at a time. The theory claimed that if America let Vietnam fall to the communist, then one after another every country in the world would fall, including America. The choic...