Between 1964 and 1975 the heightened tensions over the Vietnam war caused many americans to become divided on the actions taken by the government across seas. Americans questioned whether the government could be trusted. The feeling of betrayal and government secrecy created the “Credibility Gap,” in which many americans believed that the government no longer was for the people, but for anything else that would benefit the government. The Vietnam War exacerbated the gap between the pro-war traditionalists and anti-war liberals along with an increase in military action, causing controversy over government spending; as a whole these factors established a sense of distrust between the American government and its people. The Credibility Gap expanded during the Vietnam War causing citizens to question the truthfulness of president Johnson’s administration and the reports on events that were occurring overseas in Vietnam. When Daniel Ellsberg released the Pentagon Papers to the media in 1971 he increased the public’s distrust in the American government. The pentagon papers, originally named “Report of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Vietnam Task Force” by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, contained secret government reports detailing the decisions made in the Vietnam War under the Kennedy and Johnson administration. Also written within the report was a detailed layout of operation Rolling Thunder, in which the United States strategically bombed north Vietnam from
During the Vietnam War, Americans were greatly influenced by the extensive media coverage of the war. Before the 1960’s and the intensification of the war, public news coverage of military action was constrained heavily by the government and was directed by Government policy. The Vietnam War uniquely altered the perception of war in the eyes of American citizens by bringing the war into their homes. The Vietnam War was the first U.S uncensored war resulting in the release of graphic images and unaltered accounts of horrific events that helped to change public opinion of the war like nothing it had ever been. This depiction by the media led to a separation between the United States government and the press; much of what was reported flouted
For almost 200 years the American public viewed their government and its chief executive with virtual reverence. Presidents like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy were the embodiment of every principle and value set forth in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The events that occurred in Vietnam coupled with the Watergate scandal shocked the nation and irreparably damaged the publics’ view of politics and government activities. The release of the Pentagon papers
The Vietnam War was a long, expensive war between the communist regime of North Vietnam and Viet Cong, against South Vietnam and its ally the United States of America. The war began in 1954 after the rise to power of Ho Chi Minh in North Vietnam, and continued against the image of the previous Cold War between two global superpowers; the US and The Soviet Union. In this essay I will investigate the changing role and attitudes of the media in the United States, and the impact, if any, it had on the United States Government.
The Vietnam War plunged the United States in an ever-increasing dilemma of how to exit what seemed to be an unwinnable war against a formidable foe without losing honor and respect in the global community. In a comparison of two essays regarding America’s involvement in Vietnam, the authors offer different perspectives on the war and what led to an America defeat. In the first essay, the effects of the 1968 Tet Offensive are examined and what impact it had on American policy and public opinion about the war effort. Likewise, the second essay examines the role the news media played in the war effort and what effect they had, if any, on official and public opinion, domestically and internationally.
“I was persuaded then, and I remain persuaded now, that the war was wrong. And since it was wrong and since people were dying as a result of it, it was evil(O ' Brien 272).” Tim O ' Briens If I Die in a Combat Zone is based in the Vietnam war with the main character being Tim O ' Brien. He explains what it was like to be drafted into the war and the hardships that he went through fighting the Vietcong. The changes that happened before his eyes to people he was fighting with being turned into a deranged person. He describes the fears that the soldiers had of bouncing betties and the people hiding waiting to attack the moment they go to sleep. The Vietnam started in 1955 and ended in 1975 with a total body count of a million people killed
The Vietnam War, deploying 2.5 million troops and lasting 10 years made it one of the largest wars in United States history. Allegedly, the war started after two navy ships were fired at off of the banks of Vietnam. The questionable attack would foreshadow a very misunderstood and questioned war to come. The United State’s army would be tested in just how strong they were, some 58,000 men were killed and almost double that were severely disabled. This was humiliating to the United States, a great world power at the time, and tensions grew as the war went on. Robert F. Kennedy mentioned the severity of the war in one of his speeches, “For years we have been told that the measure of our success and progress in Vietnam was
Throughout the 1960’s, the United States of America was in the midst of change, advancements, and struggle. It was America vs. the Soviet Union, always trying to one up each other in both weaponry and space technology, but the main conflict was the spread of Communism. As the battle between Communists and Non-Communists raged on, America attempted to do everything in its power to stop the spread of communism all around the world. This is what lead to the gruesome war that lasted over a decade in Vietnam. A great deal of social changed happened all over the world, but particularly in America as the Vietnam War dragged on. As people became more aware of the atrocities going on in Southeast Asia, the endless domestic support turned into
The American involvement in the Vietnam War created widespread division between the American people. There were many United States citizens who believed that the United States was involved in the Vietnam struggle for the right reasons, in order to prevent communism from taking over South Vietnam. There were also other citizens who believed that the United States was involved over there for the wrong reasons, due to the feeling that it was none of our business, and that it was considered another form of American imperialism. These same differing opinions were also seen in various songs written during the war years. During the sixties, songwriters, composers and musicians were all involved in lending their talents towards either support of
In the United States, we learned about how we beat the British during the Revolutionary War, even before we were a country. How we jumped in during WWI to help bring it to an end. Also, how we raided the shores of Omaha to save Europe from Hitler, and drop nukes on Japan. We learned how we beat the Soviet Union so hard during the Cold War that they don’t even exist anymore. One war that America does not seem to talk about is the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War was a proxy war during the Cold War, but it is always swept aside. The Vietnam War divided the U.S. as the war continued throughout the years. The U.S. shouldn’t have been involved in the Vietnam War because the Domino Theory was not correct.
The Vietnam War, it is one of America greatest downfall in history. The Vietnam War took up so many time that five presidents have to deal with the situation: Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon. All of the Presidents have tried their very best to prevent communism from spreading any further, especially toward South Vietnam. There was so many major and minor events that happen within the war. But there are some questions that should be asked such as, “How did the Vietnam War begin?” or “How well did the U.S. Government and the U.S. Troop handle the situation during the Vietnam War?” Right Now, all of those questions shall be answer.
The Vietnam War, is widely regarded as a conflict that divided public opinion in the United States and influenced civilian perceptions on international relations. The conflict lasted for over twenty years and began after a policy of communism was introduced in the North after the withdrawal of French imperialists. The American government was highly concerned with the spread of communism in Asia (known as the Domino Theory) and wanted to end the possible political threat. Over time, the war has became a part of American social memory and is especially known for its distribution of iconic imagery of civilian atrocities. Through these images, varying tales have been told and have brought into question American values, as well as possible hidden motivations of both the government and the press. Over the course of several decades, a popular myth has formed that photojournalism was a critical hallmark to the effectiveness of the anti-war movement, however the public perception of the imagery was commonly not out of sympathy for the Vietnamese people who were victims, but dissatisfaction with the influx of internal confusion and misinformation. This essay will argue the Vietnam War 's use of photojournalism, ultimately contributed to the questioning of American values, as well as the hidden motives of government and media outlets that remains a concern in modern America.
During the 1960s and early 1970s, the Vietnam was the most talked about issue of the time. Due to the high number of American casualties, and the troubling images that were broadcast on the nightly news networks, the opposition of the war rose drastically. Many argue that the climax of the anti-war opposition occurred in May of 1970 on the campus of Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. It was during an anti-war protest that the Ohio National Guard opened fired on the crowd, killing four students. The country, torn apart by the war, saw the support for the soldiers decrease. In the years that followed Kent, President Nixon began to bring troops home from Vietnam. Expecting a hero’s welcome back to the states, similar to what their parents had received following WWII; Vietnam Veterans received quite the opposite. At airports that soldiers were returning to, many protests occurred, shaming the soldiers for their actions during the war. Many of the veterans returning home Vietnam found it hard to find work because too many people had developed a hatred for them due to the war. Congress confronted the growing problem of discrimination against these Veterans by taking action in 1974.
Many of those who have seen the face of war will tell you that it never leaves that individual. It is likely that some of those who may tell you that may have seen that face during their time in Vietnam. The Vietnam War was an armed conflict that spanned over many years before it finally ended in 1973 with the exfiltration of United States (US) forces. During this time, tens of thousands of US service members lost their life while hundreds of thousands were left with debilitating injuries and returned to the US. One of the bloodiest battles during this war was the Battle of Hue, which took place during the Tet Offensive of 1968, and was one of the largest urban fights since the Korean War. Due to the urban environment of this particular battle, cover and concealment was at a premium but left fields of fire lacking. Hue city was significant because it was a religious and cultural focal point for the country. Hue city was one of the most venerated cities in Vietnam, as well as, the home of the Catholic church of the country. The purpose of this paper is to explore the events surrounding the Battle of Hue and actions which may have caused a different outcome. Analysis of the Battle of Hue reveals a significant challenge facing the US: The use of Human Intelligence (HUMINT) collection and dissemination of the critical information obtained by effective source operations would have drastically changed the outcome of this battle in the favor of the US and its allies.
The Vietnam War lasted from 1954 through 1975, and was the longest war ever fought in American History which lasted for 21 years. This war was long and costly and was mainly fought against the communist regime of North Vietnam and its southern allies known as the Vietcong, against its war rival South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. More than 3 million people were killed in the Vietnam War, including 58,000 Americans (Staff). Although this war was mainly fought towards the impact of stopping the spread of communism, there were many other factors that contributed to the start of the war.
Rita Ghatourey once said, “Good decisions come from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions.” Sometimes bad decisions can lead to a broken finger nail or a scratch, while others can cause millions of deaths and psychological tolls. Throughout history, multitudinous countries and leaders have made deplorable decisions, causing lives to be lost. For example, during the Vietnam War, Presidents of the United States made many unethical decisions, which only further exacerbated the war. The war occurred from 1965 through 1968 in mostly Vietnam, but also in Laos and Cambodia. The war was fought between the communist North Vietnam and their communist allies and South Vietnam, supported by the US and a few other countries. The Viet