The Vietnam War was the longest war in which the United States took part. It began in 1957 and ended in 1975. Vietnam, a small country in Southeast Asia, was divided into Communist-ruled North Vietnam and non-Communist South Vietnam. North Vietnam and Communist-trained South Vietnamese rebels fought to take over South Vietnam. The United States and the South Vietnamese army tried to stop them but failed. The Vietnam War was actually the second phase of fighting in …showed first 75 words of 2957 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2957 total…because the U.S. did not use its full military power and because opposition at home weakened the war effort. However, other Americans believe that the U.S. involvement was immoral and unwise. Some feel U.S. leaders stubbornly made the war a test of the nation’s power and leadership. Since Vietnam, many Americans have argued that the nation should stay out of wars that do not directly threaten its safety or vital interests.