There are many similarities and differences between the late 19th century Philippine Insurrection and the late 20th century Vietnam War. The types of war and atrocities committed during both conflicts are comparable, while factors such as the objectives and motivations of the war differ greatly. I personally believe the United States had a better case for fighting the Vietnam War, even though it was our first major military defeat. Despite the American defeat, the Vietnam War was more worth fighting than the Philippine Insurrection because the United States had a more laudable reason for getting involved. American involvement in the Philippine crisis represented a bold new step for the country as it had emerged from its previous state of isolation. However, when the Vietnam War began, America felt compelled to participate simply because it was the most powerful nation in the world militarily and had much experience in warfare and foreign relations. Vietnam fought for its independence from France in the First Indochina War. It was divided into North Vietnam, which fell under Communist control, and South Vietnam, which attempted to establish a republican form of government. The North Vietnamese were determined to reunite Vietnam under Communist rule. However, the United States adhering to the “Domino Theory” was determined to prevent this from happening (Encarta). In essence, this theory stated that if one country fell under communist rule, many others would follow in a chain reaction, or domino effect (Encarta). The United States was steadfast in containing communism and spreading capitalism and democracy, and therefore supported South Vietnam's resistance to the... middle of paper... the Namitian people." 2003.Kissinger, Henry. Porre end the Vietnam War. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2002. “Centennial of the Philippine-American War (1899-1902).” Rene N. Sumodobila 1998. “Philippine Independence: Is the Real Story Told in the United States? ". Aurora José Wong. 2003. "The Filipino." WGBH Educational Foundation. 2000. "The Vietnam War - Overview." The History Channel Classroom in the UK. 2003.Young, Marilyn B. The Vietnam Wars, 1945-1990. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. “Vietnam War.” 2002.