Vietnam War Essay 1 PDF

Giddens-Byers 1
Tijera Giddens-Byers
Professor Andrade
Engl 1
29 February 2020
The USA vs Common Sense
What could there possibly be to gain in joining a war that would achieve quite literally
nothing other than theblatent murder of 2 million innocent lives? Seemingly nothing. Many
Americans from that time period would agree, considering the escalating number of protests to
send all troops home during 1964-1973. The only reason any Americans were able to be
persuaded into supporting this war was the ever-growing fear of communism, which was
thoroughly used in propaganda pieces to create an anti-Vietnamese headspace among Americans.
Truly there are very few reasons to validate President Truman’s choice in giving the French
military and economic aid during the Vietnam War, outside of wanting to contain communism
and prevent its spread across eastern asia. However, even then, Ho Chi Minh’s primary ideology
was nationalism not communism, and many of the “slogans” he wanted implemented into the
Vietnamese government are things present day liberal Americans fight for in our government
system. If a single reason has to be pinpointed as to why President Truman would choose to
insert America into the Vietnam War it would be he simply didn’t want to upset our French allies
by not assisting them after they vehemently asked for our help.
Despite what France originally said to both the US and Vietnam in the March 6th
agreement, it was increasingly obvious to Ho Chi Minh and President Truman that their true
intention was repossessing their lost colony. France’s main fear in not ruling over Vietnam was
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that an independent Vietnam would cause an uproar in more economically important colonies,
such as Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia (Ch. 2, pg 22). This was troubling to America, because
France, like the rest of the Allies, had an important part to play in the post-World War II era,
such as occupying Germany. If France didn’t have the military or economic power to support
this plan for Germany, the Allies feared the leftover Nazis would be able to rise up again.
Therefore, President Truman felt as though he had little choice in not providing aid to France in
its endeavors, despite how it was proven the last time France occupied Vietnam they did nothing
but tear down it’s economy and people.
President Truman was alerted to the terrifying thought that France might have joined the
Soviet Union in succumbing to communism themselves. While unsure if it was a true threat or
not, Marilyn Young notes that French President Charles de Gaulle made a silent threat to Harry
Hopkins in 1945 when he said, “If the public here comes to realize that you are against us in
Indochina, there will be terrific disappointment and nobody knows to what that will lead. We do
not want to become communist; we do not want to fall into Russian orbit, but I hope you will not
push us into it.” (Ch.2 pg 22). De Gaulle clearly was attempting to scare America into providing
military and economic aid to France throughout the Vietnam War, and he ultimately succeeded.
The idea of a powerful ally turning to communism, especially while America was still battling
the Soviet Union in the Cold War, was a terrifying reality no American president wanted to face.
Therefore, as Young writes that the Truman Administration would go on to provide “$160
Million in direct credit in 1946 expressly for the use in Vietnam (Ch.2, Pg. 22)
It’s not an exaggeration to say the entirety of the Vietnam War was completely
unwarranted and was brought about due to the wounded pride of an imperialist country, and its
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opportunistic use of post-World war II conditions. Had it not been for the fact that President
Truman needed to satisfy it’s French allies in order to protect the world from the spread of
communism and keep overall world peace, France would have never seen a cent from America.
However, due to the circumstances America was up against, President Truman would go on to
make a decision that would cost up to 2 million lives, and ongoing cultural and psychological
issues in a small eastern asia country.

Giddens-Byers 4
Works Cited
Young, Marilyn Blatt. The Vietnam Wars, 1945-1990. HarperCollins, 1991, pp. 22

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What were Ho Chi Minh's primary ideologies?

What threats did French President Charles de Gaulle make to persuade the US to provide aid?

Giddens-Byers 1

The USA vs Common Sense

thoroughly used in propaganda pieces to create an anti-Vietnamese headspace among Americans.

but tear down it’s economy and people.

issues in a small eastern asia country.

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