The United States got involved in the Vietnam War due to their policy of containment. During this era, America was trying to stop the spread of communism across the entire world. The Vietnam War posed a threat where communism could spread to the democratic country of South Vietnam. The US decided that this threat of communism spreading was a threat to democracy and freedom, so they got involved.
The fighting experience for American troops was horrific. A hot and humid climate posed several problems for the American military. Along with this, the fact that the Vietcong (North Vietnamese army) did not wear uniforms to distinguish themselves from other Vietnamese citizens made it extremely difficult for the US military to determine who was an innocent civilian and who was a part of the Vietcong.
Ultimately, the US's efforts failed and Vietnam. The policy of Vietnamization, implemented by Richard Nixon, allowed for the gradual withdrawal of US troops until there were none left. This withdrawal was caused by several different factors, including mass protests by citizens across the country who felt the US should not be involved in the affairs of Vietnam.
