Causes

• The Geneva Agreement- 1954


  Split Vietnam in two after 1st Indochina war

  South lead by Ngo Dinh Diem

  North lead by Ho Chi Minh
• Diem as a bad leader 


  Forced peasants off their land

  Devout Catholic who caused Buddhist persecution, he used his brothers secret police to conduct raids

  Corruption/Bias- giving key roles to friends and family

  Policy against vietcong escalated conflict

  He is often described as a authoritarian leader
• War acting as a proxy war 


  For the cold war between America and USSR/communist side
• American policy 


  The domino theory

  Policy of containment

  Truman doctrine- 1947
• Divided vietnam 


  Both sides wanted unification but of different political beliefs
• The Gulf of Tonkin incident- 1964


  Controversial event that lead to the Gulf of Tonkin resolution and escalation in Vietnam
• The Gulf of Tonkin resolution 


  Meant that LBJ had the power to do anything to prevent any form of aggression in Southeast asia