Development
• The large-scale involvement of the US came under the tenure of President Lyndon B. Johnson.The increasing involvement and the escalation of troop involvement meant there were more casualties and more problems at home. But Johnson, who was always concerned about his image, and as president, held the power to halt the war in Vietnam, could not face the thought of being regarded as the first president in US history to lose a war.The pressure around him grew so intense, that he was only left with one option and that was not to run for a second term. Basically, he handed the hot potato to Richard M. Nixon.
• With the cold war at its height, the US leaders were worried that an attack on North Vietnam would create tensions with the Chinese and Russians. The US was also faced with a number of cultural differences between the two countries. It was difficult for the US to portray South Vietnam as a hard working, hard fighting democracy.The Army of the Republic of Vietnam was disorganized due to the low morale of it's leaders and their singular interest in personal gain. Therefore the US had a great deal of difficulty in holding the army together in South Vietnam and saw only one solution, that was to start taking care of things for themselves. By 1950 the US began sending their first troops, firstly in an advisory role, which slowly escalated into a full blown commitment.
• Between 1955 and 1960, the North Vietnamese tried to take over the government in South Vietnam, and in Novemhrown and executed. The following year, the North Vietnamese began a massive drive to conquer the whole country aided by China and Russia.
Vietnam War
Background
• In 1860, France began its domination of the area and had, by the late 19th century, implemented its colonization in a number of regions . During WWII, the Japanese government took control of much of the area and set up a puppet regime that was eventually forced out by the Vietnamese at the end of that war in 1945.
• After WWII and until 1955, France fought hard to regain their former territories in the region, but with a poorly organized army and little determination among the troops, their efforts soon collapsed. The French were finally defeated in1954. The French troops withdrew, leaving a buffer zone separating the North and South and set up elections in order to form a government in the South. The communist regime set up its headquarters in Hanoi under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh.while in the south,Ngo Dinh Diem formed the Republic of Vietnam.
US Intervention
• Fearing a communist takeover of the entire region, the United States grew more and more wary of the progress of Ho Chi Minh . Communism had become the evil menace in the United States. the Americans were bent on stopping communism from spreading any further.