When did the U.S. first become involved in the Vietnam situation leading up to the Vietnam War?
From 1949 the U.S. sent aid to the French forces fighting to keep French colonial rule in Vietnam. Then in 1954 America refused to allow free elections to be held throughout Vietnam because they were afraid the communists would win the elections. According the to Encyclopedia Britannica Online, “In AprilJuly 1954 the Geneva Accords, which were signed by French and Viet Minh representatives, provided for a cease-fire and for a temporary division of the country into two military zones at latitude 17 N. The last of the Geneva Accords – called the Final Declaration – provided for elections, supervised by the commission, to be held throughout Vietnam in July 1956 in order to unify the country. Viet Minh leaders appeared certain to win these elections, and the United States and South Vietnam would not approve or sign the Final Declaration; elections were never held.
