Why did the United State oppose Ho Chi Minh's Leadership in Vietnam? Were the United States justified in their involvement in Vietnam? Please answer this question in 3-5 sentences with specific examples from the unit. (20 points)
The United States opposed Ho Chi Minh's leadership in Vietnam because they feared the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, which Ho Chi Minh represented. The US saw Ho Chi Minh as a threat to their interests in the region and sought to contain the spread of communism through military intervention. However, the US involvement in Vietnam escalated into a long and costly conflict, resulting in significant loss of American lives and ultimately failing to achieve their objective of stopping the spread of communism. One specific example from the unit is the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, where the US used a reported attack on their naval ships as justification for escalating their military presence in Vietnam.
