Causes of the Vietnam War

<p>At the end of World War II Europe was divided by two ideological super powers.<br>President Truman had hoped that newly conquered Eastern Europe would hold free<br>elections and determine their own course of government. Stalin had no intention of releasing his grip on the lands and an Iron Curtain descended on Europe. Woodrow Wilson's dream of a general association (league) of nations was formed in the way of the United Nations but this organization could do little to stop communist expansionism.<br><br>Wilson in earlier years had believed it was the role of the United States to promote democracy and freedom throughout the world. Modern day democracy has its base in Christianity and classical liberal thought. Both clash against socialism and communism.<br><br>Leaders of the West such as Truman saw the Soviet Union through Wilsonianism eyes.<br><br>They were convinced that democracy was morally superior to other forms of government and saw communism as a threat against idealist dreams of world harmony. This lead American politics to embrace the idealist notion of promoting and defending liberal democracy worldwide. Communism was seen as the opposite of democracy and therefore a threat to international peace and world stability. What Wilson (and later Kennedy and Johnson) failed to recognize is that western ideas of individualism liberalism constitutionalism equality liberty the rule of law democracy free markets separation of church and state often have little resonance in Confucian Buddhist or Orthodox cultures.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>