Vietnam War

On March 12, 1947 in an address to Congress President Truman declared that the foreign policy of the United States be to assist any country whose stability was threatened by communism.It was his initial intention for $400 million to assist Greece and Turkey. This became known as the Truman Doctrine. America fought in the Vietnam War to hold the line against Communism. As part of the Truman Doctrine the United States paid for the war the French fought against Communist Vietnam. And by the 1950's became involved in the war. By the late 1950's the United States came up with a theory to justify their involvement in the war. Known as the Domino Theory. This theory said that id South Vietnam fell to the communist, Laos, then Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, India, and Pakistan would fall also like "dominos". The Pacific Islands and even Austria could be at risk. In 1954 when the French were defeated Vietnam split into two, the North was Communist and the South was Capitalist. The capitalist  south recieved billions of dollars from the U.S in support of their non- communist society, and as a result many vietnamese buddhists from the communist north protested against American involvement by self- immolation. The opposition to America's involvement in the war began in 1964 but grew stronger. The U.S was polarized between those who supported the continued involvement in the war and those who wanted peace. Opposition events ranged from peaceful nonviolent demonstrations to radical displays of violence. 


Sources Cited:
http://www.learnhistory.org.uk/vietnam/reasons.htm
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1780.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposition_to_the_U.S._involvement_in_the_Vietnam_War