During the Johnson administration, the United States continued escalating its commitment to the Vietnam War because
A) all of the nation's European allies urged it to do so.
B) most members of the Johnson administration strongly believed it was inevitable that the United States would win the war.
C) the American public demanded victory.
D) the administration feared that a failure in Vietnam would embolden America's enemies.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Johnson administration feared that a failure in Vietnam would embolden America's enemies, particularly the Soviet Union and China. They saw Vietnam as a crucial battleground in the Cold War, and believed that a defeat there would damage America's credibility and embolden communist expansionism. This fear of perceived weakness and the need to maintain credibility was a major factor in the escalation of the conflict.

During the Johnson Administration, the United States Continued Escalating Its