The Vietnam War affected both the social and political views of this nation. This war took one great nation and completely divided it in two. As shown by examples in this paper, the political and social changes were drastic enough and demonstrated by enough people that it was able to move an entire generation. Even today, the different views of the Vietnam War are seen in the way the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is viewed by many today: “ A somber reminder of the loss of too many young Americans, and of what the war did to the United States and its messianic belief in its own overweening virtue.” [ (Sitikoff, 1999)
“Battle Cry of Freedom”. The Civil war Era, James McPherson. Oxford University Press. NewYork, 1988 James McPherson James McPherson tackles problems in his one-volume history of the Civil War, Battle Cry of Freedom. The reasons are evident: the war that separated the country in the mid nineteenth century still drives a wedge between some; the war, its causes, and effects were abundant and difficult and affected nearly every part of American society; and it seems that the bloodier, more complex the event, the more words we use to describe, and justify its events and effects.
As the communist party gained influence in Vietnam during the late forties and early fifties, at the beginning of the Cold War, the people of the United States were extremely worried about the threat of communism spreading to Southeast Asia. The Cold War agendas of the major world superpowers made Vietnam a major point of conflict because of the widespread hate of Communism in the United States, the pro-communism agenda of the Soviet Union, and both of their interest in Vietnam. As in most colonized places, the Vietnamese people were oppressed and treated as
The American involvement in the war between North and South Vietnam would drastically change the views of many Americans. With this the nation was split between two parities, ones who were all for the war, and the other that were against it. With every night bringing a live update on the war the views of the people would constantly change biased on the progress of the war. The main part of the war came to a head between the 1960’s and 1970’s, with the Tet offensive taking place which single handedly end Lyndon brown Johnson’s future of running for a second term for president. During the war, the nation seemed to be separated into two parties.
Many were accused as being traitors for their beliefs. Americans also became swept up in social conformity causing a new American Dream to take shape. During the 50s, America experienced many new changes in its way of life. New problems arose like The Cold War and new social issues changed American conformist ideals and fortified civil rights. In the 50s, blacks began standing up for their civil rights.
The Vietnam War hit home hard with the drafting of college students and young people. The immense spending on the war caused inflation and federal debt. The Cuban Missile Crisis removed nuclear missile silos from Cuba. The crisis arose in response to the Bay of Pigs Fiasco failure by JFK. It was an issue of politics.
Paul Potter’s Speech: Paul Potter was the president for the SDS, Students for a Democratic Society. He addressed the public in a famous speech about the war in Vietnam. He describes how America’s role has not only been extremely harmful to the people of Vietnam but has also been harmful to the people of the U.S. When Potters states: “We must name that system. We must name it, describe it, analyze it, understand it and change it” he is talking about the injustices of the American government.
This shows how Walter noticed that people attentions were grabbed by the over coverage the news released. Walter Cronkite also had an effect on the war and changed many peoples opinions as well. "When Cronkite traveled to Vietnam to cover the Tet Offensive in February 1968, he was shocked by the military and political situation in the South. Cronkite realized that North Vietnam remained a strong and dangerous foe. Armed with this knowledge, the trusted broadcast journalist decided to air grim editorial detailing his own impressions of the war in Vietnam" (pg 120, 121) When he did this editorial his understanding of the war got the public to feel they were being lied to because they had believed we were winning.
Cultural Impacts of the Vietnam War on America In the spirit of hippie antipolitics and the all too familiar phrases of “make love not war” and “bring our boys home!” everything from sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll to corrupt politicians, American soldiers dyeing in Vietnam; the period between 1960-1975 forever changed American culture. The Vietnam War had a direct impact on American society, and left a cultural legacy on the country indefinitely. The changes are evident as the United States experienced a second inner revolution creating anti-war protests and demonstrations that helped create a new generation or free loving, expressive, radical “hippies.” The Vietnam War has left legacies in
The main purpose of the documentary “Consuming Kids” is to display the negative impact advertising and marketing is having on our children who are the targeted audience especially because they are easy to manipulate and do not understand the deceptive or persuasive nature of advertising . Coupled with the unethical intrusive approach advertisers are using to maximise the benefit of child influenced consumer spending which has increased by 40% a year since the 1980 ‘s due to Government deregulation. The documentary uses factual shock tactics by displaying the enormity of the problem and relies on the emotions of parents and the general public to think about how their children are being affected and encourages them to do what they can to make a change and to encourage legal reform as our children’s