Question

Preventing the spread of communism was the justification U.S. officials give for sending troops to aid an unpopular government in Vietnam.
Responses

True
True

False

Answer 1

Possible false response: Some officials may have used the argument of stopping communism as a justification for the Vietnam War, but it is also widely understood that there were other motivations such as containing Chinese and Soviet influence, maintaining America's credibility as a superpower, and protecting economic interests. Additionally, the notion that communism posed an immediate threat to American security in Vietnam has been challenged by scholars who argue that Vietnam was primarily a civil war and nationalism played a crucial role in the conflict.