Overview
The Vietnam War started because of the Domino Theory and the Gulf Of Tonkin Resolution. After the end of World War II, there was a rise in communism, which led to the Cold War. The United States in the 1950s had to fight in Korea against communism, which separated Korea into two parts North and South as we know them today. Later the leader of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, wanted to implement communism in his country as well. The United States was against it because the U.S. thought that if Vietnam became Communist slowly, the whole Asian countries would become Communist. This thought process is known as "Domino Theory." The Domino Theory led to the separation of Vietnam into North and South Vietnam. North Vietnam being communist and South Vietnam being Democratic.
After the separation, there was no direct involvement of the United States. However, on August 4th, 1964, North Vietnam attacked the U.S. ship in the Gulf of Tonkin. The attack was taken seriously by the U.S. government, and on August 7th, 1964, the U.S. Congress signed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. The resolution gave President Lyndon B. Johnson authoritative power to attack North Vietnam anytime he wanted. There was not any second attack from North Vietnam, but President Johnson did not want to take any risk, and he initiated the Operation Rolling Thunder. The result of Operation Rolling Thunder was destructive, and the public of the United States was disturbed by that which led to the Anti-Vietnam War Movement.
After the separation, there was no direct involvement of the United States. However, on August 4th, 1964, North Vietnam attacked the U.S. ship in the Gulf of Tonkin. The attack was taken seriously by the U.S. government, and on August 7th, 1964, the U.S. Congress signed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. The resolution gave President Lyndon B. Johnson authoritative power to attack North Vietnam anytime he wanted. There was not any second attack from North Vietnam, but President Johnson did not want to take any risk, and he initiated the Operation Rolling Thunder. The result of Operation Rolling Thunder was destructive, and the public of the United States was disturbed by that which led to the Anti-Vietnam War Movement.
Other students in this POL 4900 seminar are researching other U.S. social movements. You can learn about their research here.