Spreading Of Communism In Southeast Asia example essay topic

The United States intervention in Vietnam has continuously been a controversial matter that not everyone can agree upon. From a fair perspective, we will experiment the issue by answering the question of how and why the U.S. intervened in Vietnam from 1945 to 1963. By the apparent spread of Communism in Southeast Asia, the United States decided to provide economic and military assistance to Vietnam in order to help it remain a democratic country. With China and North Korea becoming Communist countries, the United States tried to stop the spreading of Communism in Southeast Asia.

During the Truman administration, Washington entered the war in fear that Asia would "fall into the Communist orbit if Ho Chi Minh were victorious in Indochina" (Lessons, 20). After the loss in North Korea and "the victory of Communists in the Chinese Civil War" (Lessons, 20), the U.S. finally agreed to support a new government in Vietnam that would be able to defeat the "Vietminh and prevent the further spread of Communism in the region". (Lessons, 20) The U.S. indirectly helped South Vietnam by establishing organizations such as the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), to support the South Vietnam government. The U.S. never wanted to directly support the South Vietnam government, but "it did set up a multinational Southeast Asia Treaty Organization to protect the States in the area from further Communist encroachment" (Lessons, 24). The U.S. tried to gain alliances with other countries in its support by pledging countries such as Australia, France, New Zealand, Pakistan, The Philippines, Thailand, and Great Britain to come to the aid of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. The U.S. continues to offer military and financial support up until the end of the war.

Many important figures in the U.S. government viewed the U.S. participation in Vietnam as a necessary approach. Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, claims that "It is necessary to take risks to win peace just as it is necessary in war to take risks and win victory". Meanwhile, President Kennedy also "approved an increase in U.S. military assistance In late 1961". From the U.S. involvement, it was evident that the U.S. was determined to win the war in Vietnam even if it required much military assistance. The U.S. during that period of time was a leading world power who represented a symbol of democracy. Because of the sense of power and determination to spread democracy to the rest of the world, the U.S. decided to get itself involved in the Vietnam War in hope that victory in Vietnam would stop the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia.