Essay On Us Involvement In The Vietnam War
opinion Essay
1062 words
Why did the United States get involved in the Vietnam War? Ask this question to a cross section of Americans, a housewife like Bobbie Lee Pendergrass who wrote a moving letter to President Kennedy looking for answers not about the death of her brother, but the reason why he fighting in Vietnam. Most Americans couldn’t even tell you where Vietnam was on a map much less why we sent so many soldiers to fight a civil war half way around the world because most Americans did not think that communism was not an immediate threat. The United States government’s reason was that they wanted to stop the spread of Communism and the expansion of nuclear weapons so they supported a military government in South Vietnam which was under the leadership …show more content…
Arthur E. Woodley, Jr., a special forces ranger in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969 was a typical soldier, young wanting to escape where he lived, willing to join the military, but not fully understanding the gravity of what they were in for. He spoke of how he changed, became like them, a monster able to torture another human being just as the Vietcong had done to American solders. These words said by Woodley, Jr.” I came to the realization that I was committing crimes against humanity and my-self. That I really didn’t believe in these things I was doin “(Johnson, 288) shows that emotional pain is something all vets bring home with them. Many solders as well as their families didn’t recognize the person that they have become when they do come back home. Many find that they hate who they have become. Woodley also believed that he war was a just war because he felt that our government would not lie to him. Now home he might realize that his trust was honorable, it was …show more content…
Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara knew that our soldiers were not fighting for America, but for a country that they knew little about, Mcnamara said, “We find ourselves . . . no better, and if anything worse off. This important war must be fought and won by the Vietnamese themselves. We have known this from the beginning. But the discouraging truth is that, as was the case in 1961 and 1963 and 1965, we have not found the formula, the catalyst, for training and inspiring them into effective action (Johnson (278) There is no formula for a war that the American people do not support. Another reason why the United States failed was because our government wanted to seek negotiations. They thought that Hanoi or the VC will respond to peace overtures now. . . . The ends sought by the two sides appear to be irreconcilable and the relative power balance is not in their view unfavorable to them (Johnson,
In this essay, the author
- Explains why the united states got involved in the vietnam war. most americans didn't think that communism was an immediate threat. they supported a military government in south vietnam under ngo dinh diem.
- Opines that president kennedy's decision to aid vietnam was a difficult one that all five presidents struggled with.
- Analyzes how mcnamara's candor about the complexities and inability for the united states to succeed seemed to fall on deaf ears.
- Explains why the united states got involved in the vietnam war. most americans didn't think that communism was an immediate threat. they supported a military government in south vietnam under ngo dinh diem.
- Opines that president kennedy's decision to aid vietnam was a difficult one that all five presidents struggled with.
- Analyzes how mcnamara's candor about the complexities and inability for the united states to succeed seemed to fall on deaf ears.
- Analyzes how woodley, jr., a special forces ranger in vietnam in 1968 and 1969, became like forest gump and committed crimes against humanity.
- Opines that the vietnam war called into question or reaffirmed fundamental american values. the fact that many solders died in vietnam made many question the sending troops to any future wars.
- Opines that the united states failed to achieve its overall objective of a communist-free south vietnam because its soldiers were not equipped to fight war in which they had not trained, or were prepared for the brutality of the enemy.
- Explains roark's "vietnam and the limits of power 1961-1975." the american promise: a history of the united states.
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- Lawrence’s purpose in writing this book was concise and to the point. In recent history, due to the fall of the Soviet bloc, new information has been made available for use in Vietnam. As stated in the introduction, “This book aims to take account of this new scholarship in a brief, accessible narrative of the Vietnam War… It places the war within the long flow of Vietnamese history and then captures the goals and experiences of various governments that became deeply embroiled in the country during the second half of the twentieth century” (Lawrence, 3.) This study is not only about the American government and how they were involved in the Vietnam conflict, but highlights other such countries as France, China, and the Soviet Union. Lawrence goes on to say that one of his major goals in writing this book is to examine the American role in Vietnam within an international context (Lawrence, 4.) Again, this goes to show that the major purpose of Lawrence’s study included not only ...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how mark atwood lawrence's the vietnam war: a concise international history shows an international affair involving many nations and how the conflict progressed throughout its rather large existence.
- Analyzes how lawrence's purpose in writing this book was concise and to the point. it places the war within the long flow of vietnamese history and captures the goals and experiences of various governments.
- Analyzes how mark atwood lawrence uses primary sources to enhance the credibility of his study and the overall experience of the vietnam war: a concise international history.
- Analyzes how mark atwood lawrence's the vietnam war: a concise international history shows an international affair involving many nations and how the conflict progressed throughout its rather large existence.
- Analyzes how lawrence's purpose in writing this book was concise and to the point. it places the war within the long flow of vietnamese history and captures the goals and experiences of various governments.
- Analyzes how mark atwood lawrence uses primary sources to enhance the credibility of his study and the overall experience of the vietnam war: a concise international history.
- Analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of lawrence's book, the vietnam war: a concise international history.
1155 wordsRead More - The Vietnam Waranalytical essay- Robert J. McMahon, ed. Major Problems in the History of the Vietnam War. New
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the vietnam war manifested itself as an ideological struggle between the democratic, capitalist united states and the communist bloc of the u.s.
- Explains that the north vietnamese communist represented a new wave of vietnamese nationalists and freedom fighters.
- Analyzes how the reversal of president franklin delano roosevelt's policy calling for the liberalization of colonial rule during the administration of harry s. truman and the subsequent u.s. support of french colonies after world war ii alienated vietnamese nationalists.
- Explains that the vietnam war manifested itself as an ideological struggle between the democratic, capitalist united states and the communist bloc of the u.s.
- Explains that the north vietnamese communist represented a new wave of vietnamese nationalists and freedom fighters.
- Analyzes how the reversal of president franklin delano roosevelt's policy calling for the liberalization of colonial rule during the administration of harry s. truman and the subsequent u.s. support of french colonies after world war ii alienated vietnamese nationalists.
- Explains that the resolute commitment to resistance was duplicated in the "south" designated by the abstract demarcation line laid out by u.s. led geneva convention in 1954.
- Analyzes how the vietcong and their counterparts in the north garnered enough popular support to feasibly prolong the war indefinitely.
- Analyzes how presidents truman, eisenhower, kennedy, johnson, and nixon's international policies led to the quagmire in vietnam.
- Analyzes how president johnson's efforts to solve the crisis through a process called vietnamization led to the sending of 500,000 american troops to vietnam during the 1968 escalation.
- Analyzes how nixon was determined to end the war in vietnam as quickly as possible, but this task proved more difficult than he had perhaps anticipated. nixon's contradiction is emblematic of the attempts made by the u.s.
- Analyzes how the conflict between vietnamese nationalists and u.s. policy-makers led both nations into war.
1667 wordsRead More - History Of The Vietnam Waranalytical essayThe Vietnam War (1954-1975) was, and continues to be, a contentious issue around the world. Many analysts of the war attribute it to Lyndon B. Johnson, who was president of America from 1963 until 1969, because under his administration, the American Army became involved in combat in Vietnam. Although there were many facets that lead Johnson to make his decision and there were three other presidents, in power during the course of America’s involvement in Vietnam, who also played key roles, it was Johnson who made the decision to escalate US intervention in Vietnam.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that many analysts attribute the vietnam war to lyndon b. johnson, who was president of america from 1963 until 1969, because the american army became involved in combat in vietnam.
- Explains that the vietnam war was the second of the two indochina wars, where the first was fought and lost by france.
- Explains that american exceptionalism is the theory that america is a unique and superior nation, and has the obligation to promote and extend american ideals around the world.
- Explains that many analysts attribute the vietnam war to lyndon b. johnson, who was president of america from 1963 until 1969, because the american army became involved in combat in vietnam.
- Explains that the vietnam war was the second of the two indochina wars, where the first was fought and lost by france.
- Explains that american exceptionalism is the theory that america is a unique and superior nation, and has the obligation to promote and extend american ideals around the world.
- Explains that johnson launched a sustained bombing campaign against the drv after the tonkin gulf incident, which won him an overwhelming victory against barry goldwater in the elections.
- Explains that the us secretary of defense proposed an increase of us troops to 175 000 by mid-1965, but the communist leaders decided to win a quick victory.
- Explains that the tet offensive was a military disaster for the viet cong, but it was still 'political and psychological defeat' for america.
- Argues that the failure of the us in vietnam stems from johnson's cautious approach to military campaigns because of his logical fears of chinese or soviet involvement or an uncontrollable conflict.
- Analyzes how johnson and nixon failed to factor in vietnam's bitter history of opposition to chinese domination and the growing rift in sino-soviet relations.
- Explains that the vietnam war was a difficult experience for the us military as well as its foreign policy. johnson's decision to go to war was made from hard thought-out reasoning but he did not factor in the environment in vietnam or the opinion of the american public.
1977 wordsRead More - The Involvement of the United States in Vietnamanalytical essayThe single most important factor in understanding the United States involvement in Vietnam is fear. In the years leading to the Vietnam Conflict the United States was immersed in paranoia toward Communist Russia and the communist movement as a whole. This paranoia has its roots in the depression of the nineteen thirties and was fueled by the exploits of men like MacCarthy and other politicians who saw this as an opportunity to further their careers or push policies. This paranoia was the most important factor in the entrance of the US into the conflict in Southeast Asia.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that fear is the single most important factor in understanding the united states involvement in vietnam.
- Explains that the united states was one of the two most powerful nations in the world during world war ii. this position placed americans at odds with their rival country, the soviet union, on almost all fronts.
- Explains that there are now two great nations in the world, which starting from different points, seem to be advancing toward the same goal: the russians and the anglo-americans. each seems called by some secret design of providence
- Explains that fear is the single most important factor in understanding the united states involvement in vietnam.
- Explains that the united states was one of the two most powerful nations in the world during world war ii. this position placed americans at odds with their rival country, the soviet union, on almost all fronts.
- Explains that there are now two great nations in the world, which starting from different points, seem to be advancing toward the same goal: the russians and the anglo-americans. each seems called by some secret design of providence
- Analyzes how the rise of these two nations as leaders and rivals was seen as early as tocqueville, but this vision was not realized until the end of wwii where the two countries developed as ideological opposites.
- Analyzes how the american mistrust of the soviet union began during the march on berlin during war. roosevelt's letter to stalin on february 6, 1945, said that if we cannot get a meeting of minds now, how can we get an understanding on even more vital things in the future?
- Explains that the growing mistrust of the relatively new communist nation led to the eventual fear of a global conflict between the two ideologies.
- Analyzes how the ussr's arms build-up and consolidation of new soviet-bloc nations reinforced the fear of communism. politicians at home played on this fear with rhetoric and speeches such as the 1950 republican party slogan.
- Explains how senator maccarthy began hearings on communism and hunted down those who he felt were communists living and working in the us.
- Explains that they have a list of 205 names that were made known to the secretary of state as being members of the communist party and who are still working and shaping policy in the state department.
- Opines that senator mccarthy's words set off a period of political hysteria.
- Analyzes how the fear that gripped the american public now had influenced government to the point where innocent people were being deprived of jobs and having their reputations ruined.
- Explains that the fear of communism spreading and destroying the american way of life manifested itself in things such as the domino theory.
- Describes how vietnam's revolution was waged against a failing french colonial government that was unable to provide for its people. the leader, ho chi min, asked for the support and recognition of the united states and the western world.
- Analyzes how the revolution could have been seen as a way to stop or disprove the domino theory, and gain an ally in the heart of what was becoming an communist portion of the globe.
- Explains that the second world war was a time of prosperity and growth for the united states. the depression, the threat of the communist soviet union, and nuclear warfare caused mass panic in the american people.
1233 wordsRead More - John F. Kennedy did not support the conflict in Vietnam. He had always been a firm believe in the containment of communism. When JFK was first...
In this essay, the author
- Opines that john f. kennedy was arguably one of the best presidents and most powerful man we have experienced in the short life of america.
- Explains that john's plan to withdraw from vietnam was laid out by secretary of defense robert s. mcnamara and joint chiefs maxwell d.
- Explains that john f. kennedy did not support the conflict in vietnam. he had always believed in the containment of communism. the cuban missile crisis was probably the closest that the united states had come to nuclear war.
- Opines that john f. kennedy was arguably one of the best presidents and most powerful man we have experienced in the short life of america.
- Explains that john's plan to withdraw from vietnam was laid out by secretary of defense robert s. mcnamara and joint chiefs maxwell d.
- Explains that john f. kennedy did not support the conflict in vietnam. he had always believed in the containment of communism. the cuban missile crisis was probably the closest that the united states had come to nuclear war.
- Explains that kennedy knew the toll of war and did not take it lightly. he was not easily persuaded by the corrupt companies that urged the war to continue.
- Concludes that the vietnam war would not have lasted as long as it did had jfk still alive his whole term. john would have pulled out of vietnam rather than let the war continue the way that johnson had.
- Describes the works cited, including "cuban missile crisis" and "john f kennedy and vietnam."
617 wordsRead More - LBJ and the Vietnam Waranalytical essayThus far the Vietnam War has shown to be a highly complex situation. Many of times, I have found myself agreeing with Lyndon B. John’s decisions to escalate the war. First and foremost, the United States had made a promise of freedom and tranquility to the people (whom were not part of Viet-Cong) of Vietnam. As an American, it is my opinion that the United States had to uphold its word, essentially its credibility. Secondly, withdrawing troops from Vietnam when the situation was really out of control would make the United States appear weak. In midst of the Cold War, the one thing that was not going to prove true was that the United States was weak. Although these reasons were and are valid, the anti-war movement in conjunction with the Tet offensive required President Johnson to make a decision that changed the perception of the war; he chose to call a halt on the bombardment in Vietnam. The purpose of this essay is to further analyze how the continuing anti-war movement and the Tet Offensive were the reasons that “America’s fate was effectively sealed by mid-1968.”
In this essay, the author
- Agrees with lyndon b. john's decisions to escalate the vietnam war. the anti-war movement in conjunction with the tet offensive changed the perception of the war.
- Analyzes how the antiwarriors, described in melvin small's book, were relentless, fighting for a just cause. they were able to organize and rally others to join in their quest to end the violence that was occurring in vietnam.
- Explains that the pentagon siege was one of the underlying reasons lbj had decided to end the bombing in vietnam.
- Agrees with lyndon b. john's decisions to escalate the vietnam war. the anti-war movement in conjunction with the tet offensive changed the perception of the war.
- Analyzes how the antiwarriors, described in melvin small's book, were relentless, fighting for a just cause. they were able to organize and rally others to join in their quest to end the violence that was occurring in vietnam.
- Explains that the pentagon siege was one of the underlying reasons lbj had decided to end the bombing in vietnam.
- Analyzes how the tet offensive was highly detrimental to the united states.
- Opines that lbj's decision to end the war in vietnam marked the end of a gruesome war, which was not fulfilling its principle objectives.
930 wordsRead More - The Problem With Vietnamanalytical essayFoster, Gaines(1990, January). Coming to terms with defeat: Post-Vietnam America and the post-Civil WarSouth. Virginia Quarterly Review. Vol.66, pp 17.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how censorship and a strategic public relations plan in world war ii helped america maintain the image of "a cause worth fighting for." technology transformed america's perception of war into the truth about the vietnam war.
- Analyzes the impact of censorship on the american public, and how lies and propaganda gave the citizens a false view of war.
- Analyzes the media's coverage of the vietnam war, which was influenced by mistrust and betrayal toward the us government.
- Analyzes how censorship and a strategic public relations plan in world war ii helped america maintain the image of "a cause worth fighting for." technology transformed america's perception of war into the truth about the vietnam war.
- Analyzes the impact of censorship on the american public, and how lies and propaganda gave the citizens a false view of war.
- Analyzes the media's coverage of the vietnam war, which was influenced by mistrust and betrayal toward the us government.
- Analyzes how president lyndon johnson understood the impact of television on the public. he cited several times about how television's effect was costing the us the war.
- Analyzes how johnson was not alone in his feelings about the effect of the media on opinion. television critic and author of living- room war credited television with trivializing the vietnam war by "sandwiching" it between commercials, soap operas and quiz shows
- Analyzes how general william westmoreland, a commander during the undeclared vietnam war, held hostilities toward the media's involvement in the war.
- Analyzes how streitmatter's book, the vietnam legacy, describes how the media shaped the beliefs about the war for the public.
- Analyzes how daniel c. hallin, author of the uncensored war, disputes the theory that media during the 1960s and 1970s shifted toward an oppositional relation to political authority.
- Analyzes how james boylan's article, " declarations of independence," outlines the changes in the press from pre-vietnam to the present.
- Opines that on-the-scene and in-your-face coverage of the vietnam war changed america's attitude towards war, towards reality and stripped patriotism from wartime conflict.
- Cites alter, jonathan, "war in the gulf: does bloody footage lose wars". newsweek.
- Explains neuman, johanna. lights, camera, war. ch.11, television and the war in vietnam.
- Describes streitmatter, rodger. mightier than the sword. ch.12 vietnam war: bringing the battlefield into the american living room.
- Analyzes foster, gaines' coming to terms with defeat: post-vietnam america and the post-civil warsouth.
- Analyzes how press and television reported and interpret the crisis of tet 1968 in vietnam and washington.
- States hammond's reporting vietnam: media and military at war.
1658 wordsRead More - How The USA Lost The Vietnam Waranalytical essayThe Military History of the United States: The Vietnam War, the Early Days, Marshall Cavendish, New York, 1992: 9, 22, 25, 38.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the u.s. acted as a personal vendetta against the north vietnamese during the vietnam war.
- Explains that the u.s. feared that vietnam would fall to communism and set-off the 'domino effect' for other communist satellites in indochina.
- Explains that vietnam was the colonial property of france until world war ii, when france refused to recognize its independence.
- Analyzes how the u.s. acted as a personal vendetta against the north vietnamese during the vietnam war.
- Explains that the u.s. feared that vietnam would fall to communism and set-off the 'domino effect' for other communist satellites in indochina.
- Explains that vietnam was the colonial property of france until world war ii, when france refused to recognize its independence.
- Describes how the french launched a swift offensive campaign through north vietnam after landing in haiphong. the slow french defeat was the catalyst for the slow escalation of u.s. involvement.
- Describes how the french were humiliated and demanded peace at the geneva conference of 1954. the u.s. established the southeast asia treaty organization in 1955.
- Explains that president truman saw the growing communist threat to the free world. the threat of a'massive retaliation' was the first u.s. nuclear deterrence policy, created under eisenhower.
- Explains that the u.s. was at war with an insignificant nation struggling for autonomy, the same way the original thirteen colonies had struggled against britain two hundred years earlier.
- Analyzes how the ussr and the 'chinese threat' were underestimated by u.s. military advisors, who believed containment was attainable.
- Analyzes how the stage for battling communism was set, but how many actors were necessary to convey the message that the u.s. was willing to do everything in its power to stop any spread of communists.
- Cites marshall cavendish's the military history of the united states: the vietnam war, the early days.
- Cites times books' in retrospect: the tragedy and lessons of vietnam.
2806 wordsRead More - How the USA Lost the Vietnam Waropinion essaySince the civil war in the United States there have been many events that could be described as having the biggest impact on our national identity. There are countless ways that the American people have evolved since then. To me, there is no stronger test of a country’s unity and ability to succeed under pressure than war. The United States has weathered many wars and has gone back to help save the countries they defeated. World War 1 established the US as a formidable opponent and a world power. World War 2 confirmed the superiority of the United States military and the unstoppable patriotism of its people. The Cold War showed that the government could negotiate peacefully instead of directly waging yet another conflict. The main problem with being seen as a powerful nation is that there is an expectation that we look after our allies and lesser-developed countries. This is where we made a critical error that led to the Vietnam War. Which, I believe is one of the most crucial points in the history of the United States.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the united states has weathered many wars and has gone back to help save the countries they defeated.
- Explains that the us reveled in its victory while the soviet union claimed a large amount of eastern europe and the northern half of korea.
- Describes how the us helped create the republic of vietnam (gvn) to oppose the north vietnamese. ngo dinh diem claimed that the drv planned to take over south vietnam by force.
- Opines that the united states has weathered many wars and has gone back to help save the countries they defeated.
- Explains that the us reveled in its victory while the soviet union claimed a large amount of eastern europe and the northern half of korea.
- Describes how the us helped create the republic of vietnam (gvn) to oppose the north vietnamese. ngo dinh diem claimed that the drv planned to take over south vietnam by force.
- Opines that if we lose that war, and in so doing lose this freedom, history will record with the greatest astonishment that those who had the most to lose did the least to prevent it happening.
- Explains that the vietnam war was the first time devotion to the decisions of the government about war was questioned.
- Analyzes how the us was put into its place by a third-world country with little known military strategy or advanced weaponry, leaving the nation to deal with the wounded veterans, disgruntled families, and political backlash of an utterly pointless campaign.
- Cites brigham, robert k. battlefield vietnam: a brief history, history.com, and ronald reagan's vietnam war quotes and sayings.
981 wordsRead More - United States' Loss to Vietnamopinion essayUnited States' Loss to Vietnam There were many reasons for the USA's loss in the Vietnam War. There is no singular reason for the USA's loss; instead there are many, and each of these contributes to the end result. Some historians believe
In this essay, the author
- Opines that many of the troops in the us army had more troops than the enemy.
- Opines that one never knew who was the enemy or the friend.
- Opines that this made the vc a much more successful.
- Opines that many of the troops in the us army had more troops than the enemy.
- Opines that one never knew who was the enemy or the friend.
- Opines that this made the vc a much more successful.
- Opines that the vc had a good leader who had first hand experience.
1045 wordsRead More - The Vietnam War Cost the U.S. More than Moneycomparative essayU.S.A Involvement in Vietnam War Direct U.S. military involvement in The Vietnam War, the nation's longest, cost fifty-eight thousand American lives. Only the Civil War and the two world wars were deadlier for Americans. During the decade of Vietnam start in 1964, the U.S Treasury spent over $140 billion on the war, enough money to fund urban regeneration projects in every major American city. In spite of these enormous costs and their accompanying public and private disturbance for the American people, the United States failed, for the first time in its history, to attain its stated war aims. The goal was to preserve a separate, independent, non-communist government in South Vietnam, but after April 1975, the communist Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) ruled the whole nation. (Wittman, Sandra M. "Chronology of the Vietnam War." Vietnam: Yesterday and Today Oakton Community College. Skokie, Illinois. 16 May 1996: n.p.) The initial reasons for U.S. involvement in Vietnam seemed rational and compelling to American leaders. Following its success in World War II, the United States faced the future with a sense of ethical rectitude and material confidence. From Washington's perspective, the principal threat to U.S. security and world peace was monolithic, tyrannical communism emanating from the Soviet Union. Any communist anywhere, at home or abroad, was, by description, and enemy of the United States. Drawing equivalence with the unsuccessful appeasement of fascist dictators before World War II, the Truman administration believed that any sign of communist aggression must be met quickly and vehemently by the United States and its allies. This reactive policy was known as containment. The Vietnam War proved devastating...
In this essay, the author
- Explains the reasons for u.s. involvement in vietnam, the nation's longest, cost fifty-eight thousand american lives.
- Explains that the vietnam war proved devastating for the united states both in economic, military and social status, but the relative weakness of australian diplomacy during this period.
- Explains that the presidential political involvement in vietnam had little to do with vietnam at all. the micromanagement of the military by the white house for political gain is the main reason for both the length and cost, both monetary and human.
- Explains the reasons for u.s. involvement in vietnam, the nation's longest, cost fifty-eight thousand american lives.
- Explains that the vietnam war proved devastating for the united states both in economic, military and social status, but the relative weakness of australian diplomacy during this period.
- Explains that the presidential political involvement in vietnam had little to do with vietnam at all. the micromanagement of the military by the white house for political gain is the main reason for both the length and cost, both monetary and human.
- Concludes that the military is best suited for conducting wars. politicians are not involved in the decision making procedure in regards to war or military strategy.
887 wordsRead More - How America Lost The War In Vianalytical essayThe Vietnam War was the most controversial war in American history. Costing more than 47,000 U.S. lives and $140,000,000, the war had momentous impact on the country, politically, economically, and socially. More significantly, the United States failed to achieve its stated war aims, for the first time in history. The goal was to preserve an independent, noncommunist government in South Vietnam, but by the war’s end in 1975, all of Vietnam was under the communist rule of Ho Chi Minh’s Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The U.S. emerged from the war disgraced: a global superpower had been bested by the nearly third-world nation of North Vietnam. But how? Antiwar sentiment among the civilian population contributed to the American defeat, but the most fundamental fault lay in the flawed reasoning behind U.S. involvement.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the vietnam war was the most controversial war in american history, costing more than 47,000 lives and $140,000,000. the united states failed to achieve its stated war aims, for the first time in history.
- Analyzes how the american public questioned the objectives of the war, arguing that it was a civil war between the north and south vietnamese, not an effort by soviet and chinese communists to expand.
- Analyzes how the public's opposition to the war forced congressmen to reexamine the justice of war, and politicians like senator william fulbright were sharply critical of america’s policy.
- Explains that the vietnam war was the most controversial war in american history, costing more than 47,000 lives and $140,000,000. the united states failed to achieve its stated war aims, for the first time in history.
- Analyzes how the american public questioned the objectives of the war, arguing that it was a civil war between the north and south vietnamese, not an effort by soviet and chinese communists to expand.
- Analyzes how the public's opposition to the war forced congressmen to reexamine the justice of war, and politicians like senator william fulbright were sharply critical of america’s policy.
- Opines that the greatest problem with the war in vietnam was its flawed purpose. the u.s. response to vietnam’s communist threat was to apply a military solution to an internal political problem.
- Explains that the rhetoric of u.s. leaders following world war ii about the superiority of american values, the dangers of appeasement, and the hazards of communism recognized no limit to the united states’ ability to meet the test of global leadership.
- Explains that the failure of the united states in the vietnam war was a result of two major factors: strong antiwar sentiment, and inaccurate rationalism.
601 wordsRead More - The Purpose of the Vietnam Warargumentative essayThe 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.
In this essay, the author
- Describes how the u.s., north vietnam, south vietnam and the viet cong signed the paris peace accords on january 27, 1973.
- Explains that the vietnam war was the longest and most expensive war in american history.
- Analyzes how the vietnamese engaged in more effective guerilla warfare during tet the vietcong and nva attacks on key cities and basses. nixon launched a full-scale attack on cambodia in 1970.
- Describes how the u.s., north vietnam, south vietnam and the viet cong signed the paris peace accords on january 27, 1973.
- Explains that the vietnam war was the longest and most expensive war in american history.
- Analyzes how the vietnamese engaged in more effective guerilla warfare during tet the vietcong and nva attacks on key cities and basses. nixon launched a full-scale attack on cambodia in 1970.
- Concludes that the vietnam war was not our war to fight, and the sad part is things pretty much stayed the same in vietnam.
1217 wordsRead More - JFK and the Vietnam Waranalytical essayJOHN F. KENNEDY IN VIETNAM There are many critical questions surrounding United States involvement in Vietnam. American entry to Vietnam was a series of many choices made by five successive presidents during these years of 1945-1975. The policies of John F. Kennedy during the years of 1961-1963 were ones of military action, diplomacy, and liberalism. Each of his decision was on its merits at the time the decision was made. The belief that Vietnam was a test of the Americas ability to defeat communists in Vietnam lay at the center of Kennedy¡¦s policy. Kennedy promised in his inaugural address, Let every nation know...that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty. From the 1880s until World War II, France governed Vietnam as part of French Indochina, which also included Cambodia and Laos. The country was under the formal control of an emperor, Bao Dai. From 1946 until 1954, the Vietnamese struggled for their independence from France during the first Indochina War. At the end of this war, the country was temporarily divided into North and South Vietnam. North Vietnam came under the control of the Vietnamese Communists who had opposed France and aimed for a unified Vietnam under Communist rule. Vietnamese who had collaborated with the French controlled the South. For this reason the United States became involved in Vietnam because it believed that if all of the country fell under a Communist government, Communism would spread throughout Southeast Asia and further. This belief was known as the domino theory. The decision to enter Vietnam reflected America¡¦s idea of its global role-U.S. could not recoil from world leadership. The U.S. government supported the South Vietnamese government. The U.S. government wanted to establish the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), which extended protection to South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos in case of Communist subversion. SEATO, which came into force in 1955, became the way which Washington justified its support for South Vietnam; this support eventually became direct involvement of U.S. troops. In 1955, the United States picked Ngo Dinh Diem to replace Bao Dai as head of the anti-Communist regime in South Vietnam. Eisenhower chose to support Ngo Dinh Diem. John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in Brookline, Mass., on May 29, 1917. Kennedy graduated from Harvard University in 1940 and joined the Navy the next year.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the united states' involvement in vietnam was a series of choices made by five successive presidents during the years of 1945-1975. kennedy's policies were one of military action, diplomacy, and liberalism.
- Explains that the decision to enter vietnam reflected america's idea of global leadership. the southeast asia treaty organization (seato) extended protection to south vietnam, cambodia, and laos in case of communist subversion
- Explains that kennedy's cabinet members were made up of many different thinkers, including dean rusk, walt rostow, mcgeorge bundy, and george ball.
- Explains that the united states' involvement in vietnam was a series of choices made by five successive presidents during the years of 1945-1975. kennedy's policies were one of military action, diplomacy, and liberalism.
- Explains that the decision to enter vietnam reflected america's idea of global leadership. the southeast asia treaty organization (seato) extended protection to south vietnam, cambodia, and laos in case of communist subversion
- Explains that kennedy's cabinet members were made up of many different thinkers, including dean rusk, walt rostow, mcgeorge bundy, and george ball.
- Explains how taylor and mcnamara were sent on a series of trips during 1961-1963 to vietnam.
- Analyzes how the civil rights movement created a climate for protest. the cuban missile crisis raised doubts about kennedy's leadership ability.
- Explains that south vietnamese troops are defeated by a much smaller vietcong force despite u.s. assistance.
- Opines that there is speculation about what president kennedy would have done in vietnam had he not been assassinated.
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