Communism, as idealized by Marxism-Leninism, is portrayed by socialist systems as the utopian society of the future. In definitive terms, it is the sharing of social production according to the people’s needs, and thus appeals to nations of lower socioeconomic standings (Kornai 1992). This poised Vietnam, a nation neighbouring China in South Eastern Asia, to be next affected by the Domino Theory – the spread of Communism through Russia, China, North Korea and now South East Asia (Slater 1993). Following The Union of Soviet and Socialist Republics (USSR) attempt to occupy East Germany post-World War 2, a time in which many nations previously under the rule of Republics, sought independence through political reform, the communal appeal of Communism …show more content…
Eisenhower, outlined in a powerful speech what has now become known as the “Domino Theory”. Eisenhower reinforced the need for the US, to not only contain the USSR at pre-determined critical locations, but in all locations (Leeson & Dean 2009). As the Domino Theory proposed, if one nation became communist, the surrounding nations were likely to become communist and thus, falling like a row of dominos. As a result of these fears, US policy makers viewed Vietnam of upmost importance. Domino-theory logic held that if Vietnam was to become a communist nation, the potential for all of Indochina and even all of Southeast Asia to become communist rose. Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh’s popularity in both North and South Vietnam were escalating. The upcoming free elections promised at the Geneva Convention and scheduled to occur in 1956, gave promise to a unified, communist Vietnam. For US leaders this sparked there worst fears, thus the US threw its support behind the politician Ngo Dinh Diem (Rosenau …show more content…
It was a major cultural turning point in the US, it was the beginning of the hippie generation, sexual revolution and drug culture. Words previously removed from the popular lexicon, such as “pacification” and “counter culture” became widely used. A simultaneous increase in the body count and bombings in Vietnam and civil unrest in the US resulted in the organization of antiwar rallies, demonstrations and speeches occurring across the nation. The extent of antiwar sentiment spread to soldiers returning home being labeled as “baby killers” (Fendrich 2003). The moral basis of war was largely discussed on “Vietnam Day”, which was held in 1965 and drew thousands to question the wisdom of pursing the war. In 1967, a two-day march on the Pentagon drew international media attention. The antiwar movement surpassed simply college campuses, spreading to the military, with soldiers refusing to serve. Doubt regarding the wisdom of pursuing the war sprouted amidst the chaos of US politics as cracks began appearing within the administration (Fendrich 2003). The internal dissent, however, focused not on morality but on pragmatic ideas; is the cost of winning too
In 1949, Mao Zedong led the Peoples Revolution, which established a Communist State in China. Communism has now been introduced to Asia. In this period, after World War II, Communism was a popular ideology being introduced throughout the world. Vietnam was one of the many countries under the threat of Communism. At this time, Vietnam was a French Colony. As time went on tension started to come between the French and the Vietnamese people. As tension increased so did the fighting between the French and The Vietnamese. Finally in 1954, The French decided that they could no longer withstand the revolts of the Vietnamese. The Vietnamese were now free of French rule. However, many problems still remained in Vietnam. After the war there was a conference to discuss the troubles in Vietnam and all of the other troubles in Asia. That conference was called the Geneva Conference. Vietnam sent two delegations to the conference. One of the delegations represented Viet Minh (which was Communist in their leanings) and the other represented Bao Dia's government, which was backed by the United States. Both claimed to represent all of Vietnam. At the conference there was a discussion about dividing Vietnam at the 17th parallel to solve the troubles between the two delegations. Now there were two Vietnams. One, in the north, was under Communist rule and the other, in the south, was not. While the Geneva Conference was being held, the United States was already concerned about Communism being spread. The United States then decided that the only way to solve the problems would be to contain Communism including in Vietnam.
(Press conference, April 7, 1954) President Eisenhower would start laying out his first major defense of the domino theory. President Eisenhower was referring to the battle between French forces and the Vietminh (the communist led forces of North Vietnam), and which he began explaining how economically and geographically important Vietnam was to the United States and Asia. This first step is the first step towards preventing what he called the “falling domino” principle. President Eisenhower went on to explain that if South Vietnam falls to communism, then Laos would be next; and after Laos then Thailand and straight to Burma and that would lead communists to India, at the time very strong and important ally of the United States. Even Japan, President Eisenhower warned, could be in danger of toppling, another domino in that row of
One of the most important political issues of 1969 was the Vietnam War. Throughout this year many demonstrations took place to protest the war. For example, in...
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.
Hall, Mitchell. "The Vietnam Era Antiwar Movement." Magazine of History, 2004: 13. eLibrary. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.
Due to the volatile conditions of the Vietnam War, the protestors believed that they should not be involved in a war that they cared so little about. Public opinion heavily swayed during the war as only one senator dissented from the overwhelming opinion to fight the war (Amter 45). However, as President Johnson escalated the war and the Draft increased by 25% in 1968, those youths being conscripted were infuriated (Dougan 118). Not only this, the North Vietnamese began a ruthless offensive on American soldiers by merciless attacking our bases. This resulted in US victories, but also US casualties (Dougan 116). Also, the marines stationed at the bases began to use offensive attacks to deter Viet Cong assault against the wishes of General Taylor (Karnov 443). With these new less defensive strategy, Nixon announced plans to start operations in Cambodia, and to increase the bombings overall in Southeast Asia (Dougan 180). Some missions even began t...
By 1968 the Vietnam War was a time by which Americans saw deep divide, disappointment, and tragedy. Their government had let them down, the figures they could trust had been killed, and their loved ones were scared by the effects of war. Rightfully so, the American people were upset and angry. The dynamic I have explored that made Vietnam such a critical piece in America’s history that influenced and entire party and a nation will only magnify in time not just in 1968 and not just for one primary election, but for all who shared a stake in this window.
The Vietnam War was a multinational conflict lasting from 1955 until 1973. Due to international events and relations of the time, the Vietnam War was a civil war that was heavily influenced by Cold War ideology. Western politicians who accepted the reality of the Domino Theory implemented many policies to increase their countries’ involvement in Vietnam, in order to stop the progress of Communism through South-East Asia. America’s increase in military involvement in the Vietnam War was founded upon the basis of ideological tensions between Communism and Democracy. However, at its core, the Vietnam War was a struggle against the French, and did not
On November 15, 1969, the Moratorium March against the Vietnam War commenced in Washington D.C. Pacifists and peace administrators carried banners which stated, ”A Calvinist for peace, No more war, We want peace now,” and some carried placards bearing the name of soldiers that had died during the war (Leen). The placards that had names of fallen soldiers were first used on November 13, 1969 during the protest called “March against Death.” Two days after this protest, the “Moratorium March” began. This was a massive march that consisted of over 500,000 demonstrators including pacifists, activists, college students and other organizations that were also against the war (March Against Death). The Moratorium March was an effective form of protest because even though the march did not change the U.S. administrator’s official Vietnam War policy, it was still seen as a success, with about two million people participating all over the world (War Protests). This march had effectively united people to protest against the Vietnam War and the violation of human rights.
Wagaman, J. Brian. "Antiwarriors: The Vietnam War and the Battle for America's Hearts and Minds." The Journal of Popular Culture 37, no. 4 (2004): 746-748.
“In July 1965, Lyndon Johnson chose to Americanize the war in Vietnam.” Although Johnson chose to enter America into the war, there were events previous that caused America to enter and take over the war. The South Vietnamese were losing the war against Communism – giving Johnson all the more reason to enter the war, and allowing strong American forces to help stop communism. There were other contributing factors leading up to the entrance of the war; America helped assist the French in the war, Johnson’s politics, the Tonkin Gulf Incident, and the 1954 Geneva Conference. President Johnson stated, “For 10 years three American Presidents-President Eisenhower, President Kennedy, and your present President--and the American people have been actively concerned with threats to the peace and security of the peoples of southeast Asia from the Communist government of North Viet-Nam.”
The leadership styles, experience, personality, and temperament of Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and John Kennedy played a role in deepening the U.S. involvement and commitment to Vietnam. Both presidents vowed to stop the spread of communism, which was viewed as a direct assault to democracy, human rights, and capitalism. (Tucker, 1999) Both presidents also subscribed to the domino theory, or the belief that if one key country should fall to communism, then it would have a cascading effect on other countries turning to communism. (Divine, 1981) This theory was used by many presidents as the reason for ongoing support to the effort in Indochina.
James A. Baldwin once said, “The most dangerous creation of any society is the man who has nothing to lose” (BrainyQuote.com). In the 1960s, “the man” was youth across the country. The Vietnam war was in full force, and students across the country were in an outrage. Society needed an excuse to rebel against the boring and safe way of life they were used to; Vietnam gave them the excuse they needed. Teenagers from different universities came together and formed various organizations that protested the Vietnam war for many reasons. These reasons included protesting weapons and different tactics used in the war, and the reason the U.S. entered the war in the first place. These get-togethers had such a monumental impact on their way of life that it was famously named the Anti-War Movement. When the Vietnam War ended, The United States did not have a real concrete reason why; there were a bunch of theories about why the war ended. Through negative media attention and rebellious youth culture, the Anti-War Movement made a monumental impact in the ending of the Vietnam War.
The political and societal ramifications of Vietnam's Tet Offensive indubitably illustrate the historical oddity of 1968. 1967 had not been a bad year for most Americans. Four years after the profound panic evoked by the assassination of John Kennedy, the general public seemed to be gaining a restored optimism, and even the regularly protested Vietnam War still possessed the semblance of success (Farber and Bailey 34-54). However, three short weeks following the eve of 68, Americans abruptly obtained a radically different outlook. The Tet Offensive, beginning on January 30, 1968, consisted of a series of military incursions during the Vietnam War, coordinated between the National Liberation Front's People's Liberation Armed Forces (PLAF), or "Viet Cong," and the ...
Vietnam was a struggle which, in all honesty, the United States should never have been involved in. North Vietnam was battling for ownership of South Vietnam, so that they would be a unified communist nation. To prevent the domino effect and the further spread of communism, the U.S. held on to the Truman Doctrine and stood behind the South Vietnamese leader, Diem.