In 1954, Viet Nam defeated the French invasion. That threatened to end the hidden, 1865 to 1954 US business that had been enabled by force. So, in early 1955, US leaders attacked, trying to continue their early business. That was the real reason for the US-Viet Nam War. Free of blame for the hidden, wrongful US attack, US leaders have similarly pursued US business expansion by force elsewhere, through 2024.

The false claim of a 1954 entry hides that real reason.

As part of that false claim, a false assertion is that a country called “North Viet Nam” existed that the US fought. But north and south, Viet Nam remained one country after 1954. The overwhelming majority in the south, like in the north, helped defeat the French in 1954 and then in the 1960s they defended against the US.

It is “an absurd concept” to think the 1954 Geneva Accords created two countries, historian Joseph Buttinger wrote. Click for full quote. Article 14(a) of the Accords says, in plain words, that France had a temporary duty to administer the southern “regrouping zone” until elections. That means Viet Nam was not split into two countries. Instead, the Accords simply created two temporary zones  to separate the armies of the two sides, which were entangled in many places.

The Accords specifically say no political or territorial boundary was created.

The Accords prohibited the US from inserting soldiers into Viet Nam. After all, Viet Nam was one country.

So, most southern people fought tooth and nail against the illegal US insertion of soldiers. It was as if a foreign nation invaded the US and at New Orleans. Most US citizens in the south would fight back, tooth and nail.

Corporate Tsunami in Countryside Paradise : 1875–1900 Origin of US War in Viet Nam (2020) details the early US business. And, in the 1940s, US leaders set up a system for worldwide business expansion, often by force. In 1954, the US pressured France to depart from Viet Nam. And, US leaders attacked trying to continue the early business.

Betrayal by Foreign Policy Fault Line 1619–2024, US in Viet Nam 1865–1975 (set for publication in late 2025) spotlights numerous fact patterns that show the real reason for the US-Viet Nam War was business expansion by force. Though stopping communism was a factor, it was not the main reason. This volume details how the US-Viet Nam War was part of a 1619–2024 pursuit of US business expansion, often by force, often against people of color.

But the false claim is pervasive in US society. It is in high schools, colleges, books, websites, and discussions.

Towards undoing the false claim, the Teachers page in this website uses fact patterns as aids. A pattern of 22 Facts shows the business expansion, often by force. One fact is that a 1943 State Dept report is titled, “The Future Status of Indochina [Viet Nam] as an Example of Future Colonial Relationships.” It says not one word about communism.

At Viet Nam’s April 30, 2025 celebration of its 1975 victory, Viet Nam said that a US-Viet Nam strategic partnership exists, but that the war was a US imperial invasion. That was an appeal to the US public, if not the US government, to state the truth.

But the US public, not knowing the proof detailed in these two books, mostly failed to respond. And, the US government maintained its false claim.

But now, voters can read the truth. They can meet their real role of giving knowledgeable guidance to the general direction of foreign policy. Soldiers who die for foreign poicy deserve that much. Compared to the sacrifice of soldiers, that is a duty on the public.