What were the causes and effects of the Vietnam War? (summarized pls)

1 answer

Causes:
1. Cold War tensions: The conflict was seen as part of the broader struggle between communist and anti-communist forces during the Cold War.
2. French colonialism: The Vietnamese had been fighting for independence from French colonial rule for years before the war with the U.S. began.
3. U.S. containment policy: The U.S. sought to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia through military intervention in Vietnam.

Effects:
1. Human toll: The war caused the deaths of millions of Vietnamese and tens of thousands of American soldiers.
2. Environmental devastation: The extensive bombing campaigns and widespread use of chemical agents like Agent Orange caused lasting environmental damage in Vietnam.
3. Political fallout: The war deeply divided American society and led to a loss of faith in the government and its military interventions.