During the Lyndon Baines Johnson presidential administration, both those policy makers who supported America’s involvement in Vietnam and those who opposed the war were part of the “containment generation.” They had reached political maturity during World War II and the early years of the Cold War and had experienced the intense anticommunism of the McCarthy era of the early 1950s. These leaders understood and applied the lessons of American nationalism, which had the primary message that the U.S. was the dominating nation that had to embrace its responsibility to aid and improve nations in America’s image. Therefore, when they saw that there was a threat of the spread of communism to areas of Southeast Asia, a majority of the
Throughout America’s history, few things have left the nation in such controversial turmoil as the Vietnam War. With an American death toll of almost 60,000 troops, the Vietnam War has gone down in infamy as one of the most tremendous struggles Americans have faced both overseas and on the home front. Because of the tumultuous controversies caused by the war, Americans split into two social factions – those against the war and those who supported it. During the years of 1961-1975 - the era in which the war had its greatest effect on Americans - the population of citizens from 18-35 years old and the Presidency were both affected irreversibly.
The Fall of Saigon on April 30th, 1975, marked the end of nearly two decades of fighting between the Russia and China backed communist North Vietnam and the US backed right wing South Vietnam. When the North Vietnamese army entered Saigon, the free world was horrified at what it believed to be major drawback in its attempt to defeat communism around the world. In accordance with the domino theory, that same year, the capitals of neighboring former french colonies, Cambodia and Laos, both of which were also run by right wing regimes supported by the US, fell to communist insurgencies Khmer Rouge and Pathet Lao respectively. It took the communists three decades, millions of lives, and the destruction of billions of dollars in infrastructure and assets overthrow these western backed governments. So what gave these people, especially in Vietnam, incentive to sacrifice so much to “free” themselves from those governments and embrace communism as their system of governance? As this question is answered, it is important to identify aspects of the communist ideology that appeal to the general population, as well as how it goes along with Vietnamese culture, the actual practice and execution of the ideology.
Research Précis and Annotated Bibliography Hmong Involvement in the Vietnam War Literature Review Outline I. Introduction A. History of Hmong existence in America (Barr, 2005; Mote, 2004; Castle, 1993) B. Hmong Values (Moore, 2003; Moua, 1995) C. Conflicts between Hmong culture and American culture (Moua, 1995) II. Body A. History of Hmong
Before the first wave of migration, the United States took part in the Vietnam War which started the first wave of immigration. For over centuries, Vietnam was under Chinese and French controls. After World War II, the French withdrew from Vietnam and American troops entered with a request from the South Vietnamese government; who asked for American support and interest against the North communist. At the time, the Northern region of Vietnam was a communist party. In addition, the United States agreed and declared that they had to fight against communist power. As a result, many violent Anti-Vietnam War protests went throughout the United States because many people opposed to the United
As America was fighting a war for freedom in another country, unruly teens were fighting their own at home. Cultural change, the explosion of free love, youthful rebellion, and a new liberal mindset all seemed to have one underlying device in common; drug use. The late 1960’s into the early and mid-70’s found the perfect environment for recreational drug use. Music and arts celebrated this lifestyle, as well as free thinkers and their idiotic philosophies about spiritual elation through mind altering narcotics. Lack of family structure with so many homes transformed by the Vietnam War also left young teens without guidance, and an economy with little to offer to the up and coming generation. As the next few years passed and the free love generation began to grasp the concept of working for a living, showering on a regular basis, love with commitment (or antibiotics), and cultural change through policy, they brought to the workforce a new dynamic not previously prevalent. Recreational drug use had become part of society. Vietnam War veterans also brought their own demons home with their return, opiate addictions were a common occurrence (Carson 2012).
In 1975, the ‘Fall of the Saigon’ marked the end of the Vietnam War, which prompted the first of two main waves of Vietnamese emigration towards the US. The first wave included Vietnamese who had helped the US in the war and “feared reprisals by the Communist party.” (Povell)
Ever since the end of the Vietnam War; Vietnamese immigrants have become the sixth largest immigrant group coming into the United States. Due to factors such as persecution, and government upheaval during the mid-1970’s to the late 1990’s. With three major waves of refugees or immigrants comprise the majority of those coming into the country. With a small, steady flow between each major wave. Even though the first group did have advantages that other immigrant group would not have, they would still struggle to be accepted within the United States. The second group would face an even more difficult time assimilating into the United States. They would consist of refugees that had very little resources compared to the first wave. They did not have access to the same levels of education, or were capable of speaking English like the first wave of immigrants. The third wave would still face difficulties, but had more resources when they arrived in the United States. Many of the immigrants of the third wave consisted of family members of people already here in the United States. They had access to a support system, unlike those that were part of the second wave. Even though they have become part of society, they still face adversity like many other immigrant groups.
The Hmong were a tremendous Help to the Americans in the Vietnam war, they had shown the Americans where to go and aided them in gunfights, they helped heal some men who had injuries. Many Americans who were injured had aided by the Hmong people. The Hmong who consequently
Abstract The following paper will discuss Vietnamese Americans and their journey to America. I will talk about how these incredible and resilient people fought to succeed it a world that seemed to hold the odds against them. The culture, beliefs, and challenges of Vietnamese people are a precise paradigm of their strength and perseverance.
History 679 Dr. Lair A Legend is Born: Using the American Revolution to Promote Nationalism After the Vietnam War.
I grew up in a Vietnamese family of four. My parents lived in Vietnam before I was born. They migrated over here because they knew that their lives would be much more stable, and in the long run it would benefit them. I was raised to respect my elders and those around me, to be kind and humble. I value my family and friendships, because they are the one who helps me and supports my decisions. Without my family and friends, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I believe that if people work hard enough they will become successful. My parents were given the opportunity to come to the U.S. They knew that coming to the U.S means that they had to start all over. Like learning a new language to be able to communicate with peoples. They knew that they had
Societal assimilation for vietnam veterans is like climbing Mount Everest without any prior knowledge and proper supplies, irrational and unreasonable. Societal assimilation for anyone is a difficult task to accomplish, but for a vietnam veteran, the difficulty of the situation is increased one-hundred times more. Many vietnam veterans are exposed
Nguyen does an excellent job of show the reader that it’s not easy to be an immigrant. She demonstrates to the reader, through her own personal experience, that turning into an American is more that wear American clothes, and speaking English. She makes the reader realize that the process of
Leave The Past Behind As the matter of fact, the racial diversity in the world is increasing day by day. However, people just need to find out how to live comfortably with other of different history’s background. It is true that the process to overcome the past between nations and the discrimination between races takes an amount of time. Nevertheless, people nowadays are opening a new chapter of life. In reality, people all over the world now do not think about the painful past, the war or whatsoever anymore; instead, they start to shake hand, make business or lifting embargoes which last decades. In the essay, “Vietnamese Youths No Longer Look Homeward” which was written by Nancy Wride focuses and reflects on young Vietnamese