Page 51 - Reading Success B9

The Vietnam War lasted for sixteen years and was fought in the countries of
Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. It was a conflict between the communist North
Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and South Vietnam, supported by the
United States and others. The United States entered the war to prevent a communist
takeover of South Vietnam as part of a wider strategy called "containment." This was
because the United States government was severely concerned about the success of
communism in South East Asia.
Between 1950 and 1953, U.S. forces had lost 142,000 soldiers in their attempt to
stop communism from entering South Korea. The United States feared that their
efforts would have been wasted if communism were to spread to South Vietnam. At
that time, President Eisenhower was aware that he would have difficulty in persuading
the American public to support another war so quickly after Korea.
When John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States in November of
1960, he made it clear that he intended to continue Eisenhower's policy of supporting
the South Vietnamese government. He argued that if South Vietnam became a
communist state, the whole of the non-communist world would be at risk. If South
Vietnam fell, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, Philippines, New Zealand and Australia would
follow. If communism was not halted in Vietnam it would gradually spread throughout
the world. This view became known as the Domino Theory.
After the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson became the new
President of the United States. Johnson was a strong supporter of the Domino
Theory, and believed that the prevention of a Communist victory in South Vietnam
was vital to the defense of the United States. Johnson then came under pressure
from his military advisers to take more 'forceful' action against the communist North
Vietnam. The Joint Chiefs of Staff advised Johnson to send United States combat
troops to South Vietnam. As a part of this plan, it was decided to send US destroyers
into North Vietnamese waters to obtain information on their naval defenses.
On August 2nd of 1964, the U.S. destroyer, "Maddox" was fired upon by three
North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin. In retaliation, "Maddox" fired
back and hit all three, one of which sank. Johnson now had the excuse he had been
waiting for and he ordered the bombing of four North Vietnamese torpedo-boat bases
and an oil-storage depot. Afterwards, the U.S. Congress approved Johnson's decision
to bomb North Vietnam, and passed what has become known as the Gulf of Tonkin
Resolution. This allowed the President to take all necessary measures against
communism in Vietnam. By the end of Johnson’s presidency and the end of the
Vietnam War, between 3 and 4 million Vietnamese, and over 58,000 American
soldiers had lost their lives.

Main Idea

What is the main idea of this story?

a. some of the important battles of the Vietnam War

b. the drawbacks of the Vietnam War
c. the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War

d. some of the prominent figures involved in the Vietnam War

54_Reading Success B 9