The Vietnam War Essay

Secondly, America’s involvement in the war was under President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s governing force and it was his decision whether or not America should have entered the Vietnam War. The former president always wanted freedom for all and did what he could to provide it. During a speech led by a strong Vietnam believing citizen named Ho Chi Minh, he talks about the Declaration of Independence and how he wants just as America wanted; freedom for all. Ho Chi Minh stated that the “French appealed to the United States for assistance, but President Eisenhower decided not to comply [, and] France finally had to surrender its position in Vietnam” (Doc. B). Although America didn’t help the French in this situation they did agree on French action and at one point “The French pushed Ho into the countryside and established a puppet government, which was recognized and supported by the U.S. government” (Doc. B). The United States at this time would not agree or comply with any actions unless America was to gain something. In this situation, America would only help the French with military help if the French would give the associated areas

The Vietnam War was seen by all as horrible and by many, senseless. War has the ability to change people, countries, and even the harmony of the planet. After the Vietnam War’s end, many Americans didn’t want to hear or speak about the war. Many of the citizens in America wanted to forget it ever occurred. The United States had lost their invincibility to their negligence; the nation believed it could do anything. They especially thought they could end the war quickly in Vietnam and stop the spread of communism. The United States had joined the Vietnam War with hopes of becoming an alliance with France. This alliance would help turn the tide easily for them on what they thought was a naïve,

The SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) gave perspective into the mindset of Washington University students during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. These students would provide demonstrations and opinions that would impact the social environment and activities of a time of confusion and political un-justification. Many returning Vietnam Veterans and students would take action during the anti-war era. As the war had continued, the public had changed their views of the war becoming aggressive and unsupportive to what they felt was a lost cause. After reviewing several leaflets and newspapers written by students of Washington University, demonstrations of their ideas and involvement during the anti-Vietnam War movement would give considerable detail to this era. “Peace on Earth” “G.I Movement Past and Present,” and “A US Infantry Squad Just Came through Here,” all provided evidence that civilians and military would not continue to support the war and take action regarding it.

The Vietnam War also known as the Second Indochina war took place in December 1956 through April 30 1975 to the fall of Saigon. It is one of the most debatable armed forces combats that the United States of America participated in. The United States involvement the civil war that took place in South Vietnam, North Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, was characterized by numerous conflicting positions. South Vietnam was supported by United States and other anti-communist countries. The Viet Cong or” NFL” a lightly armed South Vietnamese communist fought a “Guerrilla war” against anti-communist forces in the region. The U.S government viewed American involvement in the war as a way to stop a communist take-over of South Vietnam. The North Vietnamese government and the Viet Cong were fighting to reunify Vietnam under communist rule. According to the Domino theory, if one state went communist, then then other states in the region would follow. Many American men and women were instructed to leave their country and travel thousands of miles to Vietnam and participate in this warfare. However, the involvement of the United States in this war was questioned by some members of the international community. The American citizens are also divided in their approval of their countrymen’s involvement in the conflict at Vietnam. The questionable cause or motive of the United States’ government is the primary reason as to why some people are questioning the intention of the country’s intervention.

Robert S. McNamara served as the Secretary of Defense from 1961 to 1968 under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. While historians place considerable focus on his role in the Vietnam War, McNamara also helped shape the U.S.’s greater Cold War strategy. A large component of this included the relatively new field of nuclear politics. He understood the significance of nuclear weapons as a strategic tool for bargaining. Through clear messaging, the weapons could create gains while never actually being fired. However, he also proposed that nuclear war could be limited, and not inevitably lead to global extinction. His contemporaries often dismissed this view, and indeed it remains controversial. After 1968, the former Secretary continued to advise nuclear policy through published papers, adding considerable fodder for our discussion of his positions on the topic.

advocacy groups were putting pressure on congress, and the senate to intervene, would lead to the creation of (NSDD) 166. After the 166 order was signed, President Zia was apparently still opposed to The Stingers, but after a visit from Senator Orrin Hatch along, with a number of U.S. delegates Zia requested Stingers for himself to, protect against Soviet Air attacks on the border. Zia also implied that he could get some of those stingers to rebel forces, if they were supplied to his army. Zia would have to provide the request in writing to force the CIA to give in after being advised to do so by Hatch and Wilson. After the delegation had confirmed that Zia not only wanted Stingers for himself, but that he also supported the idea to give them

The way American wars have been fought and how the men and women fighting those wars were affected have changed throughout the history of the United States. Soldiers have gone from being treated as the lowest class of society all the way to being the most respectable citizens in the country, with no linear progression leading them to this recognition. Since the foundation of the United States soldiers have been gaining more recognition for their sacrifices, with one major event standing out from this trend. The war in Vietnam was different from all wars before it, in turn causing Vietnam War veterans to be treated the worst of any soldiers previous. A mix of several factors makes this clearly evident. Those stationed in Vietnam were significantly less supported by the general population of the U.S than in any previous war. The soldiers who did make it home did not receive the homecomings that the older generations had; they were brought home to a country that disapproved of the sacrifices these soldiers made.

Background: The Vietnam war was a long conflict in Southeastern Asia, starting after World War II, ending in 1975. After losing the war, Japan seceded from the country in 1945, leaving the french with the urge of wanting to regain its long forgotten land. In addition, when China turned to communism in 1949, the communist views became a large influence in Vietnamese society. President Harry Truman was blamed for losing China to communists because he did not want to get the U.S troops involved so he instead aided the French. As a result, Vietnam wanted to become a Communist country; however, the United States was willing to help the lost cause of South Vietnam.

Despite all efforts by the French to gained control of the entire Indochina region fighting the Vietminh for many years suddenly the United States ceased all financial assistance to the French government placing a road block in regaining control of the entire region by the French. The decision of cutting all financial assistance to the French government led to the idea of having Soldiers fight which led to war of

To understand the US involvement in Vietnam, it is necessary to understand the background of traditional independence and opposition to larger powers throughout Vietnamese history. The Vietnamese had a long history and tradition of opposing invading powers. This opposition and culture was to draw the U.S. into the longest war it has been involved in. This was an indirect but vitally important cause of US involvement in the Vietnam War. As early as 500BC, Vietnam was a country that held a strong sense of nationalism, and endeavoured for the goal of autonomy, independence, and self-rule. Up until modern history, there have been several events that have contributed towards intensifying this sense of nationalism and resistance against foreign powers. National resistance against the Chinese empire was one of the earliest examples of resistance against nationalism. Throughout the period of pre-modern history from 210 BC to 1789, resistances against foreign control and rule such as that against the Nan Yue, the Song, the Ming, and the Qing, were frequent. These attempts at national resistance came down to the basis that the nationalist Vietnamese did not want foreign influence determining the political future, culture, or customs of their country. Another main example that increased a sense of nationalism was French Colonialism. The French, who were appealed by Vietnam’s unique location, natural resources, and the extensive economic opportunities

After Japan surrendered during World War II, Ho Chi Minh declared independence of Vietnam from France, forming the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. An agreement between Ho Chi Ming and France was formed that appeared to promise a peaceful solution. Under that agreement, France would recognize the Viet Minh government and allow Vietnam the status of a “free state” within the French Union (Britannica). The French failed to keep their peaceful resolve. On November 23, 1946, at least 6,000 Vietnamese civilians were killed during a French naval attack of Haiphong. This triggered the start of the first Indochina War.

The defeat of the French is a key point that led to increased US involvement in the problems in Vietnam. After the defeat of the French the country split in to two, the North being communist and the south being the opposite. The north which the leader of the time was Ho Chi Minh wanted to take over the south. America did not want this to occur because it would cause the domino theory to take action which directly links to countries that are in American interest.

The United States intervention in Vietnam is seen by the world as America’s greatest loss and longest war. Before the start of the war in Vietnam, the thought of the United States losing this war was unheard of because America was technologically superior, no country in south East Asia could contend with them. Lyndon B. Johnson announced that he would not be the president to allow South East Asia to go Communist . Why the United States lost the war has been a huge debate since the end of the war, because there were so many factors affecting why they lost; the war was a loss politically, after losing support from not only the American public but also the South Vietnamese and losing a political mandate for the war by 1973, when the last

All things considered, the war was a costly conflict that took the lives of many people in the struggle to stop communism from spreading. The war is still sensitive to the American people because many soldiers had to do die for a cause that they did not believe in. The United States learned a lesson from the war because they became very cautious about getting involved in a conflict that does not concern them but the Vietnam Syndrome, “which describes America’s reluctance to commit troops oversea unless it is absolutely necessary to protect the national interests or when there is a strong public support with a high probability of a relatively quick and inexpensive victory” (Rohn, 2016). This war will forever be a reminder that has and will continue to impact the foreign policy of the United States in the following

The French’s began to colonize Vietnam in 1874. The Vietnamese people gave the French a hard time during the “Pacification Period.” During this time the French tried to gain control of