Question

Why was the United States concerned about Vietnam during the 1950s?
The United States feared that communism would spread to Laos and Cambodia.
The United States wanted to help Vietnam gain independence from France.
The United States did not want France to take control of Vietnam.
The United States thought that it would have to send troops to Dien Bien Phu.

Answer 1

Correct answers: 1 and 4.

Brief explanation:
- The U.S. feared communism would spread through Southeast Asia (the “Domino Theory”), so it was worried about Laos and Cambodia as well as Vietnam — (true).
- The U.S. did not go to Vietnam to help it gain independence from France; instead it supported France (and later noncommunist alternatives) to prevent a communist takeover — so option 2 is false.
- The U.S. generally accepted French control as preferable to a communist victory, so it did not oppose France taking control of Vietnam in the 1950s — option 3 is false.
- During the 1954 Battle of Dien Bien Phu, American policymakers feared a French defeat might force the U.S. to intervene (there were contingency plans for air strikes and even troop commitments), so the possibility of having to send troops was a real concern — (true).