In 3-5 sentences, explain why the U.S. opposed Ho Chi Minh. Use President Eisenhower's "domino theory" in your response. (4 points)

Answer 1

The U.S. opposed Ho Chi Minh primarily due to the fear that his communist ideology could spread throughout Southeast Asia, a concern encapsulated in President Eisenhower's "domino theory." Eisenhower argued that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would follow suit, leading to a broader regional influence of communism. This fear motivated the U.S. to support anti-communist regimes in Vietnam, seeing Ho Chi Minh as a direct threat to democracy and stability in the region. Consequently, the U.S. provided military and economic aid to the South Vietnamese government to prevent the spread of communism.