Harry Truman is an important figure in relation to Vietnam as it was him who made the decision to oppose communism throughout the world. In relation to US support for France, the Truman administration concluded that the French were invaluable allies against Communism in both Indochina and Europe, and therefore deserving of American assistance. However, many articulate Vietnamese were unhappy with French rule, which resulted in a small Vietnamese nationalist group in espouse of Communism grown up in exile under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh. Consequently, Truman offered $10 million to support the French military effort, and established a US Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) in Saigon. This assistance then increased, as by the end of the year, the US had given France $100 million, along with aircraft, patrol boats, napalm bombs and ground combat machinery.
A. Plan of Investigation: The Tet Offensive was a psychological turning point for many Americans during the Vietnam War. This investigation will access what role the media had in shaping the negative opinions the American citizens had after the Tet Offensive of 1968. This investigation will focus on the public opinion of US involvement in the Vietman War and the trust and support Americans had for their military and government after the media’s portrayal of Tet Offensive. I will use the method of focusing on the misconceptions the press expressed to the public, false interpretations of the Tet Offensive regarding American military and government as well as facts that the press failed to express to the media.
The outcome was a major military victory for South Vietnam, but it was a great political victory for North Vietnam. It proved how determined the Vietcong was. It also showed the American people how costly the war would be. This was later noted to be a major turning point in America’s public opinion on the war. It made people begin to lose hope in our ability to win the war, and led to increased questioning of the President’s tactics for the war.
It has hurt our credibility across the world and caused a loss of faith in government by its citizens. Although the necessity of the war is argued by many, it is only done in an analysis of its occurrence. Had it not happened and the world possibly fell under Communism, then we would be arguing the exact opposite. The United States did what it felt it had to do at the time, given the information it had. To go to war in Vietnam was a risk the US felt it had to take in order to contain Communism, thus securing its economic prosperity and worldwide dominance.
The Vietnam War or Vietnam conflict to some was perhaps one of the most intriguing conflicts in the history of modern America. Some suggest it was justified in stopping the spread of communism, while others feel that it was a waste of American lives that encourage an age of civil rebellion. To first understand the war one must first understand, the history leading up to the conflict. Prior to Americas involvement in the war in 1960 the French occupied what was then called indo-china up until 1954. In 1950 communist nations such as china recognized the Vietminh state, which in turn gave support to the viet-cong.
Americas politics, America used Diem as a way to stop to spread of communism in Vietnam, they supported him in becoming Vietnams first president and to set up an Anti-Communist government at the same time, this was another way for the us government to stop the spread of communism the American government also stopped a Vietnam vote for either capitalism of communism America when to extreme measures to stop this from happening. In 1964 the us navy reports of an incident involving two American destroyers and several Vietnamese gunships, this is what lead to the us declaring full out war on Vietnam and the Viet mihn, it stated that Viet gunships fired
This created many protest against the draft because the voting age is 21 yet the draft is at 18. They could not vote the draft away (most men) Foreign Events * The United States became heavily involved in the Vietnam War after Congress gave President Johnson a blank check with the Tonkin Gulf Resolution (1964). In August, 1964, Johnson announced that the American destroyers had been fired upon in the Gulf of Tonkin, off the coast of North Vietnam. Later, reports questioned the accuracy of the announcement. However, the incident led Congress to give Johnson a blank check in Vietnam.
The two huge propaganda losses were so damaging to the USSR that it even resulted in Khrushchev being ousted from power in 1964. In contrast, the USA won a great propaganda victory; and Kennedy’s political career was given a great boost after his g --- at the Bay of Pigs in 1961. Kennedy became a ‘Cold War Warrior’, the boosts to his reputation clearly being shown by his mid-term gains in 1962. Yet, these losses for the USSR were merely superficial and short-lived. Although the USA had won the propaganda victory, Khrushchev had managed to defend Cuba against the might of the US.
Richard Nixon Vietnamize the war (train the South Vietnamese to fight their own and the U.S. support them with bombing raids), mine North harbor, bombing and invasion of Cambodia and Laos ( Kent University demonstration Release of the Pentagon Papers by Daniel Ellsberg revealed the war unwinnable, but presidents ignored the conclusion of CIA Nixon tried to stop its release( New York Times Co. v. United States S C: A free press was more important than keeping secrets of the government End draft (voluntary army), 26th Amendment reduced the voting age to 18 Congress passed the War Powers Act which prevented the president from sending troops to a foreign country for more than 60 days without a vote by Congress. “Ping Pong Diplomacy” with China Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty (limit defensive missiles) & Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) (limit offensive missiles) ( Détente with USSR All the President’s Men by Carl Bernstein & Bob Woodward Jimmy Carter: Return of the Panama Canal to Panama, Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, failure in the Iran Hostage
The anti-war movements and protests reflected on the soldiers in Vietnam and led to the defeat of the US armed forces. The media portrayed war in such a negative manner that resentment is still present today. The introduction of televised news coverage of the Vietnam War set a precedent of fear of war within the American culture. The vivid footage and images of combat educated the American people of the true horrors