- Domino theory, aid for France (in accordance to European solidarity in combating Warsaw Pact), John F. Dulles and Eisenhower believed SE Asia would fall in accordance to Domino Theory.
- Domino theory influenced by Chinese actions in Korea, Tibet, Yi Kiang Shan Island
- fears of communism led to the breakup of Vietnam
- support of Diem and his anti-communist policies
- Hungarian Revolution, Cuban Missile Crisis, invasion of Czechoslovakia
- Nixon eventually visited China/Soviet Union to try to undermine Hanoi, shows how Americans still saw the action in Vietnam as fighting against commuists instead of nationalists
- Soviet/China aid to NV
- later in the world, became a matter of pride in the face of the wider geopolitical implications of losing the war
- did not drop the nuclear bomb as it feared that Soviet Union, China might escalate pressure in other parts of the war
- Public opinion initially, made war popular, politicians supported the war in order to look tough on communism
- Khruschev held back support 'peaceful co-existance'
- Brezhnev gave full support
- Cambodian incursion, Laos bombing
- anti-Communist policies after the war - condemn Vietnam invasion of Cambodia, put sanctions on Vietnam, making it harder for them to prosper economically
- fears of Sihanouk's machiavilian ways meant US helped to depose him
- Lon Nol v. Pol Pot
- America felt that all communist moves were orchestrated from Moscow
