Why did america get involved in the vietnam war?

Question

Why did america get involved in the vietnam war?

Answer 1

Offshore oil.

Answer 2

America wanted to get involved in the Vietnam situation as early as the 1940s, under the cover of stopping the spread of communism.  The US, an Imperialist country was actually trying to protect the interests of another Imperialist country, France, after a pro-communist government led by Ho Chi Minn jeopardized French control.  

Answer 3

Domino theory. America thought that if vietnam fell all the other asian nations would fall as well.  

Answer 4

I know about 45 vets who served and they have no idea, and frankly neither do I...

Answer 5

United States was practicing a policy known as containment which was the theory that communism needs to be contained and prevented from spreading. The United states followed a domino theory which says that if 1 free/ capitalist country fell to communism more would follow plunging the world into communism.

The United States was involved in the Vietnam conflict very early on, we supplied the French reoccupation of vietnam and provided nearly 80% of the military equipment. Kennedy sent advisors to vietnam early on in order to train the S. Vietnamese. The main thing that really triggered our direct involvement was the alleged Gulf of Tonkin where Vietnamese gunboats launch an attack on our destroyers. After destroying several gunboats, we stated a fierce warning. Realistically, the navy actually lied about second vietnamese attack in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Answer 6

We didn't want communism to spread, and North Vietnam was communist. We wanted to prevent this spread to the South, and eventually to surrounding countries. This American principle is called containment.  

Answer 7

Communism seemed to be spreading like a disease in the 40s and 50s.  First, the USSR, then China, then Korea.  Only a war kept communism out of South Korea.  When the communists seemed likely to take Vietnam, the USA went there to try to keep it out.  Now Vietnam is a communist country.

Answer 8

we were helping the french try to keep it in there hands, they(the french) withdrawed, but we stayed and it became our problem.  

Answer 9

vietnam had rubber.