Did Vietnam War Cause Distrust Between United States Citizens

1095 Words3 Pages

Haley Sukala
Period 2
05/19/15

How did the Vietnam War cause distrust between the United States citizens and the government?

The Vietnam War was one of the lowest points in United States history. As the war progressed, many United States citizens began to support antiwar movements, a large portion of the American youth became draft dodgers, and an increasing number of protests against the war as citizens believed it was not worth the large sum of casualties. The government told the public that it would be an easy victory, but in reality, there were many American deaths and no progress was made in Vietnam. After the war, citizens found out about the mistreatment American soldiers placed on innocent Vietnamese lives, which ultimately pushed …show more content…

In response to the Vietnamese threat, the United States established the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, which gave democratic nations United State’s support when communism became a threat. President Eisenhower sent military personnel and aid to help South Vietnamese fight the communists. During Kennedy’s presidency, the South Vietnamese became weak so Kennedy increased American military and aid. In 1963, the South Vietnamese government was taken over by Kennedy’s administration. The United States government was now in control of South Vietnam. Weeks later Kennedy was assassinated and President Johnson took over. Johnson increased military support and began military offensives to attack North Vietnam. Over 500,000 American soldiers were in Vietnam by 1968.
After president Lyndon B. Johnson ordered a counter attack on North Vietnam (the first offensive attack), United States citizens questioned if we were really fighting this war to liberate South Vietnam. The anti-war movement started by the youth on college campuses. Students for a Democratic Society hosted “teach-ins” to show their disapproval for the war. Many supporters of the anti-war movement were apart of a counter culture known as “hippies”. Hippies were apart of the drug culture and believed in world peace. They were a popular culture that spread their anti-war protests through out the Untied …show more content…

Many refused to fight and burned their draft cards. One anti-war supporter and famous boxer, Muhammad Ali, refused being drafted to war. The heavy weight champion of the world burnt his draft card. He was sentenced to jail and was banned from boxing for three years. Muhammad Ali became an idol among the youth who were being drafted. Many were inspired to burn their draft cards. Approximately 210,000 men violated draft laws. And could be sentenced to prison at any time. Many draft dodgers escaped prison time by fleeing to Canada. Over 30,000 men fled to Canada after being called to a war they did not believe

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