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.
The Vietnam War was a civil war fought between the communist north and the capitalist south. The USA got involved in this because they feared the spread of communism because of the domino theory. Domino theory is the idea that if one country was to fall to communism then the rest of the countries in the region. “The US leaders were very worried the Vietnam would be just the start of a chain of communist take-overs...This theory was called the Domino Theory”. China had already become communist and Vietnam seemed to follow.
After that, nation after nation might fall to Communism. Communism is a political and economic system that the United States strongly opposed. Vietnam had been split in half in 1954, after fighting a war to gain independence from France. When French forces withdrew the US felt they needed to take matters into their own hands but the Vietnamese Communists gained control of North Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh was the leader of the North Vietnamese Communists.
After the overwhelming battle in Korea, starting in 1950, the war between North Korea, China and patron state USSR against South Korea and patron state USA finally ended in a ceasefire in June 16th 1953. It can be argued that the USA was the successors of the Korean War due to significant military and political success. However, the USA also faced great negative impacts from the war politically and militarily which can challenge the view of the USA triumph. It can be argued that the US was the victors of the Korean War because of their military success. Primarily the US goal was to defend South Korea from the invasion of North Korea, June 1950.
How Significant was the Vietnam War in Stimulating the Protest Culture of the 1960's? The popular protest culture that formed within the 1960's, that rebelled against the American traditional system arguably occurred because of the involvement in the Vietnam war from the federal government. Many young student and black Americans specifically, were highly against American intervention, prompting the protest culture. However, other reasons could have prompted this too, like the assassination of Kennedy, more political interest and involvement from young radicals now favouring communist and socialist ideas, and also, arguably the increase in education meaning young adults now didn't have to earn their livings as early on in their lives. Firstly, the Vietnam war was undoubtedly a very significant factor in the increased protests during the 60's.
To help counter that threat Truman started secretly sending money as well as supplies to help back the French forces against Ho Chi Minh's forces (Schomp The Vietnam War 5). This led Ho to seek help from China and the Soviet Union, which made Ho favorable towards communism (Schomp The Vietnam War 5). Although the United States was not directly involved in the war until 1955, they did still indirectly play a role in the move against Ho Chi Minh's forces. In an attempt to regain control, France left the French educated, strongly anti-communist Bao Dai in control of the region ("Vietnam War"). This enraged Ho Chi Minh, and his forces immediately rose up seizing the northern city of Hanoi, creating the Democratic Republic of Vietnam ("Vietnam War").
James Stewart How far do you agree that the outbreak of a major conflict in Korea in 1950 was caused by Communist aggression? The Korean War broke out in 1950 whilst Harry Truman was at the head of the American Federal Government. There were many reasons for the outbreak such as the ambiguity of the US’ foreign policy, America’s anti-Communistic mind-set, intervention from Communist China and most importantly Communist aggression orchestrated by North Korea itself and its leader, Kim Il Sung. The most significant factor of the 1950 conflict in Korea breaking out was Communist aggression in particular from the North Koreans themselves, but also Joseph Stalin and his USSR. One example of Communist aggression by North Korea, was the act of actually invading South Korea unprovoked which subsequently prompted the reaction from the United Nations and the US in particular.
Examples of this, would be the splitting of Vietnam by the 17th parallel as it meant that half of vietnam would succumb to communism aswell as the order for the French to move to the south. This eventually lead to their withdrawal from Vietnam thus pushing the US into becoming the essential support to the South. As a result of this, the US never signed an agreement. A vote for the form of government and the reunification of Vietnam were to take place in 1956, however, these elections never took place as it was certain that the Viet Minh were to win therefore leading to greater US political involvment. Ngo Dinh Diem and his actions had more responsibility as to why there was a growing US involvement in South East Asia.
How far do you agree that the USA intervened in Korea to protect its interests in Japan? The Korean War was fought on the Korean Peninsula from June 1950 to July 1953. It started as a civil war between South Korea and North Korea after they claimed each other’s territory in 1948. The situation quickly escalated into a war involving the superpowers such as the USA (who defended South Korea) and China and the Soviet Union (who defended North Korea). Korea became divided along the 38th parallel after Japan was defeated in World War 2 and from 1948-50, there were armed clashes along this border.
The Vietnam War started during this time. Vietnam was a series of battles fought by the United States, French, and South Vietnamese against the North Vietnamese, supported by the Russians and Chinese. It was a war similar to Korea in the fact that South Vietnam was trying to break away from the communist North Vietnam to start a democracy as South Korea had broken away from North Korea. It was a very long and very bloody war. The United States also began to feel more threatened by South East Asian countries especially China around this time (Roberts, 2006).