The United States foreign policy was driven by the Truman Doctrine,which held that communism must be contained and that governments susceptible to communist infiltration and takeover must be assisted. The United States joined the war to put a halt on communism. The United States basically had two missions in Vietnam. Stopping Ngo Dinh Diem from becoming a credible and effective leader, and stop North Vietnam from taking the north-south boarder of Vietnam. South Vietnam was a poor and inefficient state, so they valued the United States aid. Multiple terror attacks from North Vietnam to South Vietnam triggered the United States. The United States just wanted to stop anything huge before it happened. The lesson of Vietnam was driven by the Lesson of World War II. The United States and South Vietnam were unable to defeat the Vietcong and North Vietnamese Forces. The devastating Tet Offensive basically broke down the United States and South Vietnamese forces.
United States Presidents during Vietnam
- Harry S. Truman
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
- John F. Kennedy
- Lyndon B. Johnson
- Richard M. Nixon
Hawks vs. Doves
The Vietnam war was really separated into to groups in the United States. People who favored the war were called "Hawks" and people who did not favor the war were called "doves". The hawks believed that North Vietnam was really aggressive and that's what drew the United States into the war. The hawks also believe that the United States need to do anything to win and gain more global power. The Doves on the other side believed that Vietnam should handle its own problems in a civil war type atmosphere compared to us being involved as well. Doves also believe that the money spent at war could have drastically made our economy better. The Doves also created "Anti-War" protests.
The Vietnam war was really separated into to groups in the United States. People who favored the war were called "Hawks" and people who did not favor the war were called "doves". The hawks believed that North Vietnam was really aggressive and that's what drew the United States into the war. The hawks also believe that the United States need to do anything to win and gain more global power. The Doves on the other side believed that Vietnam should handle its own problems in a civil war type atmosphere compared to us being involved as well. Doves also believe that the money spent at war could have drastically made our economy better. The Doves also created "Anti-War" protests.