Who controlled Vietnam prior to 1954, and how did this affect the coming of the Vietnam war

French

Explanation:

The french where controlling Vietnam since 1882 for seven years prior to 1954 were fighting the Vietnam communist so as to retain control of Vietnam.  The Americans were supporting France and was looking for a way to help them without sending their troops because the believed that a French military defeat in Vietnam would result in the spread of communism to all the countries of Southeast Asia based on the domino theory. In May 1954 the french army surrendered to the Viet minh and in July 1954, an agreement was reached to cease fire

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