Vietnam War Causes

The Vietnam war derived from a fear that Communism was spreading throughout Europe and China and would continue to expand until the world was Communist. Before World War II, Vietnam among Laos, and Cambodia were the French Indochina. A man named Ho Chi Minh was an advocate for Vietnamese independence and traveled around the world seeking allies to escape from French control. Ho Chi Minh Came to the United States asking for our support but was denied only because Cold War tensions were in full effect. The United States did not want to lose French support so they denied Vietnams request for help. When Ho asked the Soviet Union for support they agreed on one condition; Vietnam had to convert to Communism. Ho agreed to this and soon the Soviet Union was aiding an Independence revolt. China and other Communist countries supported Ho in his movement. The French feared the Communist support and turned to the United States for support. The U.S. saw this as an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone; Retain French support, and contain Communism.