The Socio-political Effects of the Vietnam War Axia College of the University of Phoenix The Vietnam War was the most controversial and politically unsettling events in American history. While the war had many dramatic effects on society, the distrust in the American government and politicians that it generated has had a lasting effect on some of today’s citizens and advocacy groups. This attitude shaped many individuals political beliefs which have been passed down to younger generations. While this distrust does not affect all members of society, it is important to realize the strong emotions that the Vietnam War ignited and understand the impact it had on certain generations. There were several factors that created this general distrust.
Many historical events, especially the conflicts in World War II, have shown when foreign invasions have been justified, and when they have not. Only when the people are being freed, or liberated, from an oppressive regime can changing their society be justified. The idea of liberation is nothing new, but it is still relevant in conflicts today. The morality, rationale and laws behind starting wars have changed greatly in the past century. Today, many governments still hold the historic idea that a war in a foreign land can be justified if they are doing good for the people living in the area they are attacking.
This coverage was thought to have had a powerful influence on public opinion and therefore on political decision making”. This evidence also explains how the media influenced many Americans by making them realize that the war was bad and it had to end. The last two evidences fit together with each other because they both show how the media has changed the way people saw the war and it also shows the importance of the media during the Vietnam War. “
"The Silent Majority Speaks: Antiwar Protest and Backlash, 1965-1972," Peace & Change 17 (1992): 402-433. The author of this article goes into detail about the state of politics in the 1960’s and how many campus-based groups throughout the country were involved with black activism and antiwar protests. It covers the fundamental working class and the division in different cultures in America during this time, while also focusing on specific political party movements during this time based on the “silent majority” and New Deal democracy. Lawrence, Mark Atwood. Review of Foley, Michael S., Confronting the War Machine: Draft Resistance during the Vietnam War.
Impact of The Vietnam War on American Culture The Vietnam War was a tragic event that took place in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. The war lasted nearly 20 years and brought an impact on the American culture. The hippie movement was part of the impact the Vietnam War caused; and the movement was very powerful. People involved in the hippie movement began to change the typical American culture, and in turn, began reshaping the culture to what they felt was best. The hippie movement was very influential to the American music and art culture.
There were a variety of factors that influenced President Johnson’s decision to send ground troops into Vietnam in 1965. At the heart of this decision was the reality that South Vietnam’s regime was unraveling both politically and militarily, and thus the presence of U.S. Troops in Vietnam to protect against the spread of communist influence was essential. Additionally, most of President Johnson’s advisors favored U.S. military escalation in Vietnam for reasons of both national welfare and individual political preservation. Related to this aspect was the preoccupation of U.S. political elites with the reputation of America as a respected world power.
There are different ways one could go about interpreting this story. The setting of this story contributes to the ultimate meaning whether it being the same as the person next to you reading the same story or not. For instance, the war references in the story could have someone’s conclusion about the story have something to do with The Vietnam War. Walker states in his article, “Rather, they are unwitting soldiers in a Vietnam of their own making” (Walker). With consideration to the current setting of this story being in this sort of war zone, swampy, tall grass, eerie type of environment, yields similarity to the war zone in Vietnam.
This compelled a sense of unity, which in turn helped groups organize to change how the nation viewed the war. Country Joe McDonald’s song emphasizes a misunderstanding between the young radicals of society and their leaders, “And it’s 1,2,3, what’re we fighting for? / Don’t ask me, I don’t give a damn” (14-15). An increasingly noticeable ‘generation gap’ started to widen as U.S. News & World Report “assured its readers that Vietnam was a “local war... Big war is not threatened” (Lynskey 89). However, when President Johnson and other military advisors mixed-up events, possibly deliberately, to claim that North Vietnam had just attacked the US naval force in the Gulf of Tonkin- an incident which later proved to be a minor naval clash (Prados 1) and used this conflict as a premise to launch a full scale invasion of the communist state, the antiwar movement consolidated with great speed.
The Vietnam War and Its Effects on America One of the most influential wars in American history was the Vietnam War. It changed the course of American foreign affairs, domestic politics, as well as cultural and social history. To date, it is the longest war the United States of America has been a part of, and the only war we have lost. As all wars, the Vietnam War didn’t just begin one day, there were of course events that triggered it. As stated by historian and professor James Willbanks, the French wanted to colonize Indochina starting in 1945,although America did not approve of a French colonial domination, it was better than the alternative communist regime led by Ho Chi Minh.
Therefore, the Vietnam War can be said to be part of the Cold War due to the Americans acting upon their policy of containment and fear of the Domino Theory. However, the Vietnam War can be said to not be part of the Cold War due to its origins not being from communist and capitalist disputes, this is simply why the US became involved. Unlike other events in the Cold War, for example the Berlin Airlift (where Stalin blockaded East Berlin from the West due to the prosperity stemming from capitalism in West Berlin and Germany) and the Korean war (where the communist north attacked the South that was occupied by a US military administration, therefore making it anti-communist). The origins the Vietnam War were due to unresolved Vietnamese problems, for example the creation of a power vacuum due to the withdrawal of France in March 1954. This led to the Geneva Agreements, where Vietnam was divided along the 17th Parallel.