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Angel Sigaran

Mr. King

English I

21 April 2017

Vietnam War

The vietnam war changed politics, culture, and the United States. This was a long

and expensive conflict that consisted of North Vietnam and its southern allies against

South Vietnam and its principal ally, The United States. It began November 1st, 1955,

but officially started when the french lost the first indochina war at Dien Bien Phu in

1955. China had influenced Ho Chi Minh to start the independence of Vietnam from

Frances colonial rule.

Ho Chi Minh, he wanted to establish communist rule in Vietnam but only guides

the North communism as the United States of America to keep the French and capitalism

in Vietnam swaying the south. Ho Chi Minh formed the Viet Minh, or referred to as

the League for the Independence of Vietnam, to fight both Japan and the French colonial

administration. Japan then removed its forces in 1945, leaving Emperor Bao Dai in

control of an independent Vietnam. France wanted to regain the control of the region so

they agreed with Bao and set up the state of Vietnam (South Vietnam) in July 1949. This
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conflict continued until an incredible battle at Dien Bien Phu in May 1954 ended in

French defeat by Viet Minh forces.

Ngo Dinh Diem was an anti-communist who was the only alternative to

communist control in Vietnam which in return gained him support from the U.S. Ngo

Dinh Diem was to achieve political unification. Following the results of the defeat in

French, Ngo Dinh Diem pushed Bao aside to become president of the Government of

the Republic of Vietnam (GVN).

So after all the that happened the US involvement itself was essential and

important in containing the communist advance in Southeast Asia. Such involvement,

with clearly defined plans and goals, is an example of how the US can help to stabilize

countries that otherwise might spread their instability to whole regions. The US campaign

to end Taliban rule in Afghanistan and the invasion of Iraq in 2003 in connection with the

"war on terror" is a good example of preventing the spread of regional instability. The

U.S. ignored the wishes of the Vietnamese people when it supported the French presence

there, violated the Geneva agreements and decided to impose its own will by force. If the

history of colonialism teaches any lesson, it is that the military and political occupation of

other nations will inevitably come to an end.

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Works Cited

Anderson, Tim and Cheryl Bourassa. "Point: The U.S. Should Not Have Involved Itself

in the Vietnam War." Points of View: Vietnam, 3/1/2016, p. 2. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=12462294&site=pov-l

ive.

Aliprandini, Michael and Gerson Moreno-Riano. "Vietnam: An Overview." Points of

View: Vietnam, 3/1/2016, p. 1. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=23416472&site=pov-l

ive.

Issitt, Micah L. and Cheryl Bourassa. "War Protests and Free Speech: An Overview."

Points of View: War Protests & Free Speech, 3/1/2016, p. 1. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=23397808&site=pov-l

ive.

Badertscher, Eric and Chuck Goodwin. "Counterpoint: The United States' Involvement

in the Vietnam War Was Justified." Points of View: Vietnam, 3/1/2016, p. 3.

EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=12462298&site=pov-l

ive.