explain the causes of the US involvement in the war in Vietnam. what effect did this involvement have on life within the US itself?
Answers
The following were the causes of the US involvement in the war in Vietnam:
(i) The US policy planners got afraid of the victory of the Ho Chi Minh government. They formed an opinion that this government would start a domino effect, i.e. Communist governments would be established in other countries in the area. The US could not tolerate the spread of Communism and decided to intervene decisively
(ii)France had to face great humiliation in Vietnam. America, therefore, wanted to crush this country forever in order to save the prestige of the capitalist countries like France.
(iii)America did not want the unification of Vietnam and South Vietnam gladdened America.
But when the heads of the two parts (North Vietnam and South Vietnam) tried to unify them the US could not tolerate It sent troops and arms in Vietnam to crush its power.
But US entry into the war proved costly to the Vietnamese as well as the
Americans.
Effects of involvements on life within the US
(i)Even though the US had advanced technology and good medical supplies,
casualties were high.
(ii)Several people became critical of the US government for getting involved in
war that they saw as indefensible.
(iii) When the youth were drafted for the war, the anger spread. Compulsory service
in the armed forces was waived for university graduates. This meant that
many of those sent to fight belonged to working-class families.