How Did the U.S. Become Involved in the Politics of Southeast Asia?
For the first half of the 20th century, the United States displayed little interest in the politics of Southeast Asia. This changed in the aftermath of World War II, because of American interest both in reconstructing Europe and fighting world communism.France in IndochinaFollowing World War II, the French attempted to regain control of its former colonial possessions in Indochina (Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia), which they had lost control of during the war. The French government wanted to regain control of Indochina in order to use its wealth of natural resources to rebuild the French economy, and also because possessing colonies was a sign of national prestige.American AssentThe United States wanted to reconstruct and re-arm Germany as quickly as possible as a deterrent to any possible Russian invasion of Europe; France, Germany’s long-time enemy, did not. Although most Americans did not believe in colonialism, the U.S. government was forced to support France in Vietnam in order to sec
