Was Vietnam A Just War?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The Just War Theory specifically states that wars fought for political interests are unjust. The Vietnam War was

a conflict between North and South Vietnam

. … Lastly, the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War also did not qualify as one of the cases for just intervention.

Was the US justified in going to war with Vietnam?

The US justified its military intervention in Vietnam by

the domino theory

, which stated that if one country fell under the influence of Communism, the surrounding countries would inevitably follow. The aim was to prevent Communist domination of South-East Asia.

Why was Vietnam an unpopular war?

Many Americans opposed the war on moral grounds, appalled by the devastation and violence of the war. Others claimed the conflict was a war against Vietnamese independence, or an intervention in a foreign civil war; others opposed it because they

felt it lacked clear objectives and appeared to be unwinnable

.

Was Vietnam War a Failure?

Although American combat troops were not directly involved in the South’s final, crushing defeat, by failing to prevent the communist North’s victory, the United States – after years of costly effort that included a decade-long major military intervention and 58,000 American deaths – had

lost the Vietnam War

.

Why did the US go to war with Vietnam?

China had become communist in 1949 and communists were in control of North Vietnam. The

USA was afraid that communism would spread to South Vietnam

and then the rest of Asia. It decided to send money, supplies and military advisers to help the South Vietnamese Government.

Who Started Vietnam War?

The Vietnam War had its origins in the broader Indochina wars of the 1940s and ’50s, when nationalist groups such as

Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh

, inspired by Chinese and Soviet communism, fought the colonial rule first of Japan and then of France.

What were the 3 main causes of the Vietnam War?

In general, historians have identified several different causes of the Vietnam War, including:

the spread of communism during the Cold War, American containment, and European imperialism in Vietnam

.

Is Vietnam still communist?

Vietnam is a socialist republic with a one-party system led by the Communist Party. The CPV espouses Marxism–Leninism and Hồ Chí Minh Thought, the ideologies of the late Hồ Chí Minh. The two ideologies serve as guidance for the activities of the party and state.

Did the Vietnam War stop the spread of communism?

In the end, even though the American effort to block a communist takeover failed, and North Vietnamese forces marched into Saigon in 1975,

communism did not spread throughout the rest of Southeast Asia

. With the exception of Laos and Cambodia, the nations of the region remained out of communist control.

What problems did Vietnam veterans face when they returned home from the war?

Some struggled to overcome

physical injuries, emotional problems

, or drug addictions from their time in Vietnam. Others had trouble feeling accepted by their friends and families. Some returning soldiers blamed their situation on the antiwar movement and developed a deep resentment toward antiwar protesters.

What ended the Vietnam War?

Having rebuilt their forces and upgraded their logistics system, North Vietnamese forces triggered a major offensive in the Central Highlands in March 1975. On April 30, 1975,

NVA tanks rolled through the gate of the Presidential Palace in Saigon

, effectively ending the war.

What was the largest protest against the Vietnam War?

April 17, 1965 was the largest anti-war protest to have been held in Washington, D.C. up to that time. The number of marchers (15,000–25,000) was close to the number of U.S. soldiers in Vietnam at the time (less than 25,000).

Who was the Vietnam War against?

The Vietnam War was a long, costly and divisive conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam against

South Vietnam and its principal ally

, the United States.

What dangers did American soldiers face in Vietnam?

Discipline problems and ‘fragging’

Disillusionment with the war was coupled with psychological trauma. Most US soldiers who had spent time ‘in country’ had seen fellow servicemen, sometimes their friends, killed or disfigured by

sniper fire, mines or booby traps

.

Why did the US fail to defeat North Vietnam?

The

Amercians bombed strategic targets in North Vietnam to stop the supply of troops and weapons to the South

. There were not many industrial targets in the North so this was ineffective – bombs often missed targets and hit schools and hospitals.

How many soldiers died in Vietnam War?

US and allied military deaths 282,000 Civilian deaths (North and South Vietnam) 627,000 Total deaths

1,353,000
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Rachel Ostrander
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