The Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was one of the most traumatic events in American history. Many Americans still contemplate about the war in the 21st century, and Historians still debate about it. The Vietnam War was fought between communist Northern Vietnam and the government of Southern Vietnam. The North was supported by communist countries such as the Soviet Union. The South was supported by anti-communist countries, primarily the United States.
The United States lost the Vietnam War. It lasted for twenty years, something the US never expected when it joined the fight.
Before WWII, Vietnam had been a French colony; however during WWII the Japanese took control of Vietnam. When the war ended, Ho Chi Minh, the communist revolutionary leader of Vietnam, wanted freedom for the country, but the allies agreed that Vietnam belonged to France.
Eventually Ho Chi Minh and his rebel forces began to fight the French. His soldiers in the north were called the Viet Minh. Ho tried to get US’ help, but they didn't want him to be successful as they were worried about communism spreading throughout Southeast Asia. When Ho Chi Minh began being successful against the French, the US became more concerned. In 1950 they began sending aid to the French in Vietnam. In 1954 the French lost a major battle to the Vietnamese. They decided to pull out of Vietnam. The country was divided up into communist Northern Vietnam and Southern Vietnam. It was supposed to be reunited under a single