Reasons for US Intervention

• How did resources contribute to US intervention?

  Vietnam held valuable resources such as tin, petroleum and rubber that the US did not want to lose access to if Vietnam became communist.
• How did the Truman Doctrine contribute to the US intervention in Vietnam?

  The Truman Doctrine declared the US would prevent the spread of communism, so they intervened to try and stop it spreading to Vietnam.
• How did the 'attack' on The Maddox contribute to US intervention in Vietnam?

  The Gulf of Tonkin incident meant the US had just reason to send troops into Vietnam, as, according to them, Vietnam was the original aggressor.
• How did the weakness of South Vietnam contribute to US intervention in Vietnam?

  The weakness of South Vietnam, and Diem, was a contributing factor because the South was US and capitalist backed, this meant they wanted to strengthen and protect the South from the North's threat of communism.
• How did the Geneva Agreement contribute to the US intervention in Vietnam?

  The Geneva Agreement split Vietnam into North and South, so when the South started showing weakness and susceptibility to communism, the US intervened to protect it, as they controlled the South.
• Why was the Domino Theory a reason for US intervention in Vietnam?

  The Domino Theory was a reason for US intervention because the US were scared that if one country became communist, the neighbouring ones would too, and they wanted to prevent this from happening.