PathToWar

After WWII the Japanese were order to take their troops out of Vietnam. The communist leader Ho Chi Minh wanted Vietnam to be an independent country and for it to no longer be under the French rule. Around the same time, the Soviet Union began gaining more control over Europe, and Harry Truman became scared. America thought that it was their civil duty to prevent communism from spreading throughout the entire world. As tension with the Soviet Union grew stronger, America needed to make sure that if a war started, the French would help America. In order to keep the French willing to fight on the American side the United States needed to help the French first by gaining back Vietnam. Truman was forced to deny the invitation to fight on Ho Chi Minh’s side. He then gained the support of China and the Soviet Union. The military advisors and Truman were extremely worried about Asia turning communist. South Vietnam was ruled by Ngo Finh Diem, who was given financial support from America. The problem was that South Vietnam did not respect him. Without the support from the people a government is doomed to failure. Kennedy feared that if they did not enter the war, then there was a large possibility that communism would soon rule the earth. After time people did not support Diem and protested in the streets, America then decided to provide a new leader. During a thunderstorm one night an American ship, USS Maddox, was thought to of been attacked. There is no sufficient evidence supporting or denying this event. The United States had been preparing to enter war and when an American ship had been attacked they decided to have the first Marines land in Vietnam in 1965.