Why did the U.S. become involved in the politics of Southeast Asia. and how did this involvement impact the U.S. political climate of the 1950's.
It was called the Domino Theory. Check these sites.
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/COLDdomino.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1950s
Read carefully:
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1888.html
The U.S. became involved in the politics of Southeast Asia primarily due to the spread of communism during the Cold War. The fear of the domino theory, which suggested that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would follow suit, motivated the U.S. to intervene in the region to prevent the spread of communism.
To understand the impact of this involvement on the U.S. political climate of the 1950s, we need to look at two major events: the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
1. The Korean War (1950-1953): The U.S. intervened in Korea to support South Korea against communist North Korea, which was backed by the Soviet Union and China. The U.S. involvement in this conflict reinforced the fear of communism and solidified the perception that the U.S. must actively contain its spread.
The Korean War affected the U.S. political climate by increasing anti-communist sentiment and heightening the Red Scare. It led to a rise in McCarthyism, a period of intense anti-communist investigations and persecution, spearheaded by Senator Joseph McCarthy. The fear of communist infiltration within U.S. society and government institutions grew, resulting in a climate of suspicion, witch hunts, and an overall repressive atmosphere.
2. The Vietnam War (1955-1975): The U.S. involvement in Vietnam started in the 1950s and escalated throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. The U.S. supported South Vietnam against communist North Vietnam. This war had a profound impact on the U.S. political climate, particularly in the 1960s.
The Vietnam War led to social and political divisions within the U.S. society. It sparked massive anti-war protests, especially among the youth, who questioned the legitimacy of U.S. involvement and criticized the government's handling of the conflict. The war also exacerbated the racial and generational divide in the country, as minority groups and young people were disproportionately affected by the draft and casualty rates.
In conclusion, the U.S. became involved in Southeast Asia due to the fear of communist expansion. This involvement impacted the U.S. political climate of the 1950s by intensifying anti-communist sentiments, leading to the Red Scare and McCarthyism during the Korean War. Subsequently, the Vietnam War created social and political divisions within the U.S., sparking anti-war protests and questioning the government's actions in the 1960s.