Name: Chow Ho Yi, Karen
Course: American History
Individual Response Paper
Had America learnt a lesson from the Vietnam War? The Vietnam war has been described as the most divisive war in American History. In the name of eliminating the expansion of communism, the invasion to Vietnam did not win the support from the general public. This essay will discuss the influence of vietnam war on American society and foreign policies and whether America had learnt a lesson from the Vietnam War. The first part of the essay will mainly talk about American public’s reaction to the US government intervention to the Vietnam war and thus how did it affect the self image of Americans. The second part of this essay will analyze how anti-vietnam war movement
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Americans did not blindly follow the government as what they had done in the Pacific War and Koran War. There were mainly two reasons of the opposition. Firstly, Americans thought the Vietnam War was an immoral flight without convincing invasion reasons. Secondly, many observers noticed that the United States was losing the Vietnam War. (Simon, P.7 , 1998) The large casualties of American troops and enormous military expenses diminish peoples’ support towards the Vietnam War. University students orgainized a spate of campus protests to voice out their concerns on the injustice of the Vietnam War. Scott mentioned that Americans believed that they had a civic responsibility to speak out against the injustices of the Vietnam War. (2008, P.15) Although the US government applied more active propaganda campaign on the Vietnam War immediately, it could not stop the opposed voices from the public. More and more demonstrations took place, leading a larger scale of anti-Vietnam War movement. All the anti-Vietnam War movement showed that the general public of America had negative impression of the Vietnam …show more content…
After World War two, America claimed for moral superiority and the role model of democracy. Containing communism and promote liberal democracy became the obligation and responsibility of America. However, after the breakout of the Vietnam War, many Americans witnessed the immorality in the Vietnam War, and thus thought that the war was an injustice act. A majority of Americans believed that America should not involve that much into foreign affairs. Meanwhile, the Vietnam war caused huge casualties in the U.S. troop, leading to the structural changes of the U.S. military
...untry to war at anytime and anywhere in the world. Because of this, the American people want to have confidence in its leader’s abilities. Plus, the actions of the President and his staff have a direct influence on the thoughts and perceptions of the people towards interference in foreign countries. Most people did not find the threat of Vietnam falling to communist rule as justification for the number of lives that were lost.
Chris Appy’s s American Reckoning is a book-length essay on the Vietnam War and how it changed the way Americans think of ourselves and our foreign policy. This is required reading for anyone interested in foreign policy and America’s place in the world, showing how events influence attitudes, which turn to influence events.
i. Difficulties faced by soldiers due to the nature of fighting in the Vietnam War - Personnel had difficulties with transportation supplied with adapted vehicles back seat faced rear to provide additional fire power (Source A) – It appears as if the government didn't worry enough to supply men with safe and capable equipment - Threat of traps led to fear as vehicles had to be parked on street at night (Source A) o Check for traps each morning became a daily ritual particularly in fuel tanks (Source A) o A request for a locking fuel cap was denied because weren’t entitled to one” (Source A) • What circumstances would have needed to arise for them to be entitled to one? The Offensive full guard was set up (24hrs a day), personnel got no sleep and were constantly on alert (Source A) – How significant would this have been in the personnel’s mental frame of mind?
Though out history, American has had its hand in conflict with other countries. Some of those conflicts have turned out into wars. Looking back at America’s “track record” with war, America has a worthy past of having its citizen’s support. Obviously the two World Wars we not controversial. The United States in the Korean War was criticized, fairly, for its strategy, but the need to defend South Korea was never questioned. In only the Vietnam War was the United States’ very participation criticized. This is such a gigantic change with prior wars that it bears study as to why it happened, and better yet, should have it happened. This paper will discuss the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War, by asking the simple question, Should have the Untied States’ gotten involved into the first place. This paper will prove that in fact, America should have not gotten involved with the Vietnam War.
Vietnam was a highly debated war among citizens of the United States. This war was like no other with regards to how it affected people on the home front. In past war’s, the population of the United States mainly supported the war and admired soldiers for their courage. During the Vietnam War, citizens of the U.S. had a contradictory view than in the past. This dilemma of not having the support of the people originates from the culture and the time period.
Vietnam War (1954-1975) is considered as one of those big wars of the modern world that has been acknowledged and studied by countries in the world. Especially, in regard to the United States, starting and ending war in Vietnam was an unforgettable experience that has left a priceless lesson in its foreign policy, and of course a lot of loss, physically, mentally, and property. “The Legacy of Vietnam” article of George Herring basically summarizes how the Vietnam War led to an end in failure of America and what consequences it left behind.
Throughout history, the American people have, for the most part, stood united during times of war. The people of America always seemed to rally behind each other. Most people were either willing to fight in the war or willing to take up the responsibilities of those who left for war. The majority of Americans supported the decisions of our nation’s government. This was not the case during the Vietnam War. For the first time in American history, widespread revolt against our nation’s decision to fight in the war influenced the outcome. This is what saved our country and the lives of soldiers who were fighting an unwinnable war.
American citizens during the Vietnam War generally equally disapproved and approved of it; many protesting their dissent, and going out of their way to obtain deferments in order to avoid conscription, while many others voiced pro-war statements (Angrist 584-95). Deferments were a way to postpone your chance of conscription, which is being drafted into the military (Angrist 584-95). Although some were indeed anti-war, there was a rather equal or larger amount who voiced supportive opinions for the war, but as the war proceeded this changed (Gettleman). Such diversified opinions were the direct cause for the continuation of the war (Tomes). Peaceful protesters and radicals came into the spotlight as the war progressed, as more and more people voiced disapproving and anti-war statements towards the war (DeBenedetti 321-86).
Engaging in the war in Vietnam brought a whole different set of "American Views" to the topic of war. This time the country did not support the war like we've seen in the past. Mostly by young people, the war effort was criticized and Americans staged massive protests. The Vietnam War's controversy spurred a great many sources of protest, against our government's use of power, how far we could stretch the rights of free expression, and primarily against the violence of the war itself.
The Vietnam War was the longest and most expensive war in American History. The toll we paid wasn't just financial, it cost the people involved greatly, physically and mentally. This war caused great distress and sadness, as well as national confusion. Everyone had that one burning question being why? Why were we even there? The other question being why did America withdrawal from Vietnam. The purpose of this paper is to answer these two burning questions, and perhaps add some clarity to the confusion American was experiencing.
It is understandable that some Americans strongly opposed the United States getting involved in the Vietnam War. It had not been a long time since the end of World War II and simply put, most Americans were tired of fighting. Mark Atwood Lawrence is one of the people who opposed our involvement in the Vietnam War. In his essay, “Vietnam: A Mistake of Western Alliance”, Lawrence argues that the Vietnam War was unnecessary and that it went against our democratic policies, but that there were a lot of things that influenced our involvement.
There was nothing that affected America in 20th century like the vietnam war,It tore the nation apart .It was a costly war which took three million lives . The main reason it has so much impact on america was that some people were for the war but so many were against it .The younger nation ,especially the young men who were drafted ,did not...
The U.S. Public Opinion as a Major Factor in the Withdrawal of American Troops from Vietnam
The Vietnam War was the first major war American’s had suffered defeat. The Vietnam war was a war of confusion, competition and biasness. The outcome of the war was far greater than an upset American nation, but a severe breakdown of the Vietnamese culture, economy, environment and government. It also had a tremendous impact on American society even up to present day. It was unclear from the beginning of the war if the American’s should even be involved. It was a war between Northern and Southern Vietnam but the U.S saw it as an indirect way to challenge the USSR’s sphere of influence in Southern Asia and to prevent the domino effect and the further spread of communism. The Vietnam War completely changed the way the United States approached military action and helped establish the role of the United States within the new world order.
The Tang dynasty took power after the collapse of the Sui dynasty, which helped the Tang become a successful and powerful empire. Emperor Li Shimim took the well-working ideas and practices used from the Sui dynasty, and improved it to build his new empire. Due to the fact that Buddhism was the main religion of the Tang empire, cults were formed, and Mahayana did things like helping people reach nirvana, and translating the Buddhist sculptures for better understanding. Chang'an became the new capital of the empire, and it was surrounded by different communications and trade, like the Grand Canal, and was the center of the tributary system. Through the Silk Road, the Tang exchanged things like string instruments, grape wine, tea, sugar, and