The causes and results of the Vietnam War were those of a post-colonial situation rather than of the Cold War. How far is this true from the period from 1953-80?

Essay by aboudalaliHigh School, 12th gradeA-, January 2013

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The Vietnam War

The causes and results of the Vietnam War were those of a post-colonial situation rather than of the Cold War. How far is this true from the period from 1953-80?

Aboud Al-Ali

As one sets out to observe the underlying causes responsible for the outbreak of the Vietnam War, we notice that it could have a been a result of two main factors which are the Postcolonial situation in Vietnam and the Cold War which had contributed to the tension and animosity between countries and ideologies. However, unlike most American wars the Vietnam War had no fixed beginning. Through incremental steps from 1950 to 1965 the United States entered into this long lasting and destructive war. Studying the era of the war, it is clear to us that this was a result of a bit of both, the Cold War and the postcolonial situation, were together they have contributed to the outburst of the Vietnam War.

Vietnam had been struggling with conflicts and disagreements for a long time prior to the involvement of the U.S. The French had taken control of the country and created Indochina, which, included countries like Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos, all put under the French colonial rule. The South Vietnamese were not satisfied with this situation and thus they developed the Viet Minh in order to free themselves from the French control. The communist North's were invading the south and little efforts were put against that from the French. This minimal reaction instigated the United States financial aid efforts to France and their involvement in the struggle only heightened the tension in Vietnam. The U.S. sent financial aid to France to help them eliminate the communist threat, as they had always feared the spread of communism on a worldwide scale and took endless...