* The Cold War and the Domino Theory: The Vietnam War was a product of the Cold War, the global ideological conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union. The U.S. was determined to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, and it saw Vietnam as a critical domino in the region. If Vietnam fell to communism, the Domino Theory held, other countries in the region would soon follow.
* French colonialism in Vietnam: Vietnam was a French colony for over a century, and the French left behind a legacy of economic inequality and political repression. This created a fertile ground for communism to take root.
* The rise of Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh: Ho Chi Minh was a Vietnamese nationalist who founded the Viet Minh, a communist-led independence movement. Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh led the struggle for Vietnamese independence from France, and they ultimately succeeded in defeating the French in 1954.
* The Geneva Accords of 1954: The Geneva Accords of 1954 temporarily divided Vietnam into two countries: North Vietnam, which was communist, and South Vietnam, which was anti-communist. The Accords also called for elections to be held in 1956 to reunify the country.
* The failure of the 1956 elections: The 1956 elections were never held, because the South Vietnamese government, with the support of the United States, refused to allow them to take place. This led to increased tension between North and South Vietnam, and it ultimately set the stage for the Vietnam War.