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When did America help South Vietnam?

When did America help South Vietnam?

Following the French withdrawal from Indochina, the solution put in place established a communist government in North Vietnam and a democratic government in South Vietnam. The Americans began supporting the South Vietnamese with political and military advisers in the late 1950s.

Why did the US stop helping South Vietnam?

The United States withdrew from the Vietnam War for several reasons. The Army had to fight in unfamiliar territory, was lacking in moral, were not prepared for the conditions, could not shut down the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and were untrained to respond to guerilla warfare.

What did American soldiers do to the Vietnamese?

There is no doubt that some American soldiers committed atrocities during the Vietnam War. In the My Lai massacre of 1968, for example, U.S. troops raided a South Vietnamese village and killed between 300 and 400 innocent civilians (see box titled “The My Lai Massacre” in Chapter 12, “Nixon’s War (1969–1970)”).

Did America support the Vietnam War?

Despite the growing antiwar movement, a silent majority of Americans still supported the Vietnam effort. Many admitted that involvement was a mistake, but military defeat was unthinkable. When Richard Nixon was inaugurated in January 1969, the nation was bitterly divided over what course of action to follow next.

How old would a Vietnam vet be today?

“Of the 2,709,918 Americans who served in Vietnam, Less than 850,000 are estimated to be alive today, with the youngest American Vietnam veteran’s age approximated to be 60 years old.” So, if you’re alive and reading this, how does it feel to be among the last 1/3rd of all the U.S. Vets who served in Vietnam?

Why did America invade Vietnam?

The last reason why the Americans invaded Vietnam was because a large division was forming in South Vietnam, with the majority of the population wanting Communism. The Americans had to try and lower communist support and to do this they had to fight the communists to show which is stronger.

What was American involvement in Vietnam?

America’s official military involvement in the Vietnam War lasted from 1965 to 1975, 10 long years. Prior to American involvement in the region Vietnam was a French colonial territory. The Vietnamese people were generally oppressed under French rule both prior to WWII and after.

Did the US invade Vietnam?

The U.S. invaded Vietnam and engaged in a war that was unwinnable. Half a million U.S. troops and 700,000 South Vietnamese troops were no match for the 250,000 soldiers in North Vietnam, according to a 1968 speech by Robert F. Kennedy’s 1968.

How did the Vietnam War change America?

Another way the Vietnam War changed America’s approach to foreign policy was that the armed forces shifted to an all-volunteer army from a draft. Because of widespread sentiment against the military after the Vietnam War, the government could no longer trust the caliber of recruits it was getting from civilians pulled in by the draft, and had to go to a smaller volunteer force.