The history behind the Vietnam War started back when France governed this small country, during the 1890s Vietnam became a colony of France. The French hung onto Vietnam until World War II. At this time World War II occupied much of the forces for the French. The French basically deserted the Vietnamese people leaving them to govern on their own. When the war ended with the Japanese, being defeated in 1945. The French returned to Vietnam ready to control them again but, to their surprise the Vietnamese people refused to let them. As a result of this, tension grew and the Indochina War began in 1946.

The French wasted no time in bombing cities. The city hit hardest was Haiphong, killing around six thousand Vietnamese people and civilians. Unprepared for this type of war the Vietnamese soldiers scattered into the jungle becoming guerrilla fighters. Waging guerrilla warfare, small, secret military bands lived and worked in the countryside. The Vietnamese harassed the French with a series of surpr

By 1968, the war had become a way of life in Vietnam. One of the most secure bases for the United States was in Saigon, a city in South Vietnam. January 3, 1968, the Vietcong invaded it on one of their most important holiday called Tet; it lasted three days. This Holiday is like a blend of Christmas, Easter, and the Fourth of July. On this day there was suppose to be a cease-fire agreement. This was just one of many surprise attacks by the Vietcong over the next three days. For the first time we felt like we were not in total control.

By this time America was clearly a world power, having helped win WW II and I. And although the Korean conflict put a damper on its euphoria, America was on the upswing. The United States became very concerned with the Communist rise in North Vietnam. With Russia being Communist the U.S. didn't like the idea of Communist controlling these areas. They (U.S.) were afraid of a domino effect, if one country fell to communism then why wouldn't the others. This became a major concern for the U.S.

Ho Chi Minh controlled and powered the North and Ngo Dinh Diem was the leader of the South. Ho Chi Minh wanted to reunite Vietnam into one and rule under Communism. In the whole country Ho Chi Minh had many followers, even in the South. Minh wanted to strengthen his southern followers, so he could overthrow the South Vietnamese government, which was Diem. In the South there was another group called the National Liberation Front, they were called Vietcong (Vietnamese Communists).

Even Vietnam vets began protesting the war.

By, 1973 the Paris Peace Accords were under way. The United States, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) and Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam (Viet Cong) assembled to begin peace talks in earnest.

Meanwhile, back in the states the wounds of Vietnam were healing slowly. It wasn't until 1979 that President Carter officially honored the Vietnam Veterans; who announced the observance of the Vietnam veterans' week to be held each year in late May.

Nixon promised peace and honor. The American servicemen finally did come home. But not to the heroes' welcome they thought.

With Richard M. Nixon became president in 1968 the war going no where fast, more and more Americans started thinking that we made a bad decision getting into this war. And the enthusiastic patriotism slowly gave way to anti-government sentiment by the time Ric

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1661
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)