Johnson had a vision of "A Great Society" for the American people and fellow men everywhere. In his first years of office, he obtained one of the most extensive legislative programs in the history of the Nation. Maintaining collective security, he carried on the increasing struggle to fight Communist encroachment in Vietnam. During President Johnson's term, two crises had been gaining momentum since 1965. The first was the unrest and rioting in black ghettos that troubled the nation. The second crisis was trying to prevent North Vietnam from taking over South Vietnam, preventing the spread of communism. The United States and Vietnam have had relationships (not always direct, but through the French) since the early 1940's. A brief background of US involvement in Vietnam will be given in order to understand how Johnson got involved in Vietnam, but first a look at the geography of Vietnam.GeographyVietnam covers an area of 329, 600 square kilometers and stretches around 100,000 square kilometers from North to South. The Annamite Mountain Range connects the North and South. To the north of Vietnam is China; to the west is Cambodia and Laos. The location made the United States be very careful when using military because it did not want to start a World War III with China who was supporting the North Vietnamese. Vietnam is a little smaller than the newly united Germany. History of United States InvolvementThe French used to have a colony rule over Indochina, which consisted of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. During World War II, France fell to the Germans and in return, the Asian French colony was turned over to Japan. At this time, the Vietnamese turned from being anti-French to anti-Japan. The United States started aiding various groups in Vietnam, so that they could battle the Japanese. The United States even aided the nationalist group, led by communist Ho Chi Minh. After World War II, the French returned to take over its ...
