“Fear of communist expansion was the main reason for US involvement in Vietnam.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Candidates will consider the merits or otherwise of the argument that US involvement in Vietnam was caused by the fear of communism and its expansion. They may apply relevant background for US involvement through treatment of issues as early as the end of the Second World War. However, the focus must be on supporting, opposing or modifying the given motive for US involvement in Vietnam. Factors that may be addressed include post-war acceptance of the containment and “domino” theories, interpretation of events in Eastern Europe and Korea as reflecting a communist intent toward global domination, failure to recognize conditions in Vietnam as reflecting competing interests for Vietnamese nationalism, and President Johnson’s fear that the failure to deter North Vietnamese advancement would jeopardize his re-election efforts and threaten the achievement of his domestic agenda.