What were the primary reasons the U.S. became involved in the Vietnam War?
The most direct, publicly stated reasoning: Containment. Stop the spread of Communism throughout the rest of Asia. The belief is that if Vietnam fell, so then would Cambodia, Laos, etc. Prevention of the ‘domino effect’ was a key reason. Intimidation. Show the Soviet Union and China that we mean business. Unfortunately it didn’t have the effect. Preservation. Preserve the anti-communist, somewhat democratic government of South Vietnam, which itself was full of so much corruption that it fell in on itself. Evidence. Build a case against Communist enemies, particularly the Soviet Union. Find evidence of Soviet stockpiling and advisement. There was plenty of both. Many weapons used by the VC were directly from the Soviet Union, primary weapon being the Kalashnikov Assault Rifle AK-47.
