Which justification did U.S. officials give for sending troops to aid an unpopular government in Vietnam?
defending civilians against human rights violations
preventing the spread of communism
protecting American business interests
stopping ethnic cleansing in Cambodia
The justification U.S. officials gave for sending troops to aid an unpopular government in Vietnam was primarily to prevent the spread of communism. The Domino Theory, which suggested that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would follow, was a major concern for U.S. officials during the Cold War. The U.S. believed that by deploying troops and supporting the South Vietnamese government, they could contain the spread of communism in the region. The other reasons you mentioned, such as defending civilians against human rights violations, protecting American business interests, and stopping ethnic cleansing in Cambodia, were not the primary justifications for U.S. involvement in Vietnam.
