Vietnam War vs. Great Society
analytical Essay
2121 words
Vietnam War vs. Great Society
Anonymous: "[Johnson] had miscalculated: Even the richest and most powerful nation in the world could not do it all" (qtd. in Turbulent Years: The 60s 36). Lyndon Baines Johnson is a president torn to pieces by war. He glows in the passage of bills benefiting American society. He is someone who has suffered through an entire generation of rebellious teens. What impact did LBJ's foreign policies concerning Vietnam War have on American society?
The Vietnam War really isn't a war. Congress never declared war and thus, it is constitutionally considered police action. The United States can have troops in an area for ninety days, but how ninety days became twelve long, bloody years is beyond my knowledge. The war actually started in 1959, but U.S. involvement did not start until 1961. We withdrew from Vietnam in 1973, and it raged on for another two years. This was Vietnam's civil war, where 58,000 Americans lost their lives and Vietnam was lost to the Communists.
If it hadn't been for the French-Indochina War, America might not have been so deeply involved in Vietnam. The area of Indochina, present-day Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, was taken away from France during the Second World War and afterwards, they tried to get it back. France lured the U.S. into paying 80% of the costs used to fight Ho Chi Minh and Communist North Vietnam by the end of the French-Indochina War. As author Gini Holland put it, "This [paying the costs] committed the United States financially, although not yet militarily, to the region" (qtd. in Holland 41). So, when Vietnam was into their civil war, the U.S. felt the need to help South Vietnam. In addition to fighting Communism, the American soldiers faced the very devoted and very martial Vietcong, the pro-Communist guerilla force of South Vietnam. Look what a little help to a friend can do to you.
"It was in Southeast Asia that [Johnson] ran into his greatest difficulties" (qtd. in Encarta "Johnson, Lyndon Baines"). He finished John F. Kennedy's term starting in 1963 and completed another term, ending his presidency in 1969. As many of us are, he was reluctant to get fully involved in the war. After ordering air strikes against North Vietnam in retaliation for U.S. ships being attacked by torpedoes, he stated, "We will seek no wider war" (qtd. in Hargrove 69). Even though he did not want war, his ...
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...ghtfully, "We move step-by-step- often painfully…-along the path toward American freedom" (Schuman 73).
Bibliography:
Califano, Joseph A., Jr. The Triumph and Tragedy of Lyndon Johnson. New York: Simon Schuster, 1991
Dallek, Robert. Flawed Giant. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998
Frazier, Thomas R., ed. Voices of America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1985
Hargrove, Jim. Lyndon B. Johnson. Chicago: Children's Press, 1987
"History Channel." [Online] Available http://www.historychannel.com/, April 15, 2000
Holland, Gini. The 1960s. San Diego: Lucent Books, Inc., 1999
"Lyndon B. Johnson." [Online] Available http://www.whitehouse.gov/, April 20, 2000
Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 99. Computer Software. Microsoft Corporation, 1993-1998.
Ver. 8.29.00.0912 Windows 98, CD Monk, Linda R., ed. Ordinary Americans. USA: Close Up Foundation, 1994
Rubel, David. Scholastic Encyclopedia of the Presidents. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 1997
Schuman, Michael A. Lyndon B. Johnson. Springfield: Enslow Publishers, Inc., 1998
The Annals of America: Vol. 18. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 1976
Turbulent Years: The 60s. USA: Time Life Inc., 1998
In this essay, the author
- Describes califano, joseph a., jr.'s the triumph and tragedy of lyndon johnson.
- Cites cd monk, linda r., ed. ordinary americans. usa: close up foundation, 1994.
- Analyzes how lyndon baines johnson's foreign policies regarding vietnam war had an impact on american society.
- Explains that protests took all different forms during the 1960s, such as young men burning draft cards, and police using tear gas and rubber pellets to disperse the crowd. the largest generation was the baby boomers.
- Analyzes how the hippie movement was punished for being unpatriotic, while the veterans thought they went to war to protect a bunch of whiny wimps.
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- The History Of The Vietnam Waranalytical essayWar is a huge event in any country’s history. The United States has been experiencing this since the first major war with the American Revolutionary. The United States has been known to help out our allies when they are fighting, and intervened when countries have been at war to try and end it. The Vietnam War started in December of 1954 and ended on April 30th of 1975. The Vietnam War was a long and costly battle over communism between North and South Vietnam. The Vietnam War was a failed attempt for the United States to bring peace to South and North Vietnam because it affected our country’s history, the way politics can influence a war, an economy downfall, and how affected protest and media can be used.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the united states has been experiencing war since the first major war with the american revolutionary. the vietnam war was a failed attempt to bring peace to south and north vietnam.
- Explains that the war between north and south vietnam continued until april 30, 1975 when the drv forced the capture of saigon, now renamed ho chi minh city.
- Analyzes how the vietnam war was a hot topic in the united states and around the world.
- Explains that the vietnam war caused a few issues for the u.s. economy, such as the dollar value weakened, interest rates rose, and inflation.
- Explains that the vietnam war was the first war where the media had competed freedom of the press. the news of tet offensive shocked the u.s. public.
- Explains that the antiwar protests were huge during the vietnam war. the largest protest in american history took place in washington, dc on november 15, 1969.
- Explains that the media was anti-war during the vietnam war, and that john lennon's song "all you need is love" was a non-violent protest song.
- Opines that the vietnam war taught the united states a lot of what to do and what not. it affected our history, political standpoints, economic, media coverage, and the way we can protest.
1144 wordsRead More - US Soldiers and Their Relationship With Society in America After the Vietnam War Imagine playing in the NCAA National Championship game in front of 50,000 people and millions of others watching via their televisions at home. After an intensely fought game the final score indicates that a loss was suffered. Hopes and dreams of winning a National Championship are gone and one can only contemplate what could have gone the other way and what may be in store for next season on the journey home. Once arriving to campus the cheers and mass distributions of congrats are heard by those in the surrounding society for the effort and hard work exhibited by the players on the team. Although defeat was endured, positivity still lingered amongst the community.
In this essay, the author
- Imagines playing in the ncaa national championship game in front of 50,000 people and millions of others watching via their televisions at home. after an intensely fought game the final score indicates that a loss was suffered
- Analyzes how america's relationship with returning soldiers from the vietnam war had a negative aura that is still shown over 30 years later. vietnam veterans in america suffered from social, physical, and psychological problems.
- Describes the vietnam war as an extremely controversial war that took the lives of many americans and resulted in america’s first losing campaign.
- Narrates how a division amongst society quickly became apparent in those against the war and those for or fighting in vietnam.
- Explains that the tally of american lives taken by the war exceeded 50,000 people, and society wondered if the american government was trying to end communism or just to increase economic profits from the vietnamese.
- Explains that anti-war activists voiced their opinions stronger than ever after the troops' retreated from vietnam which made for a negative homecoming.
- Explains that many vietnam veterans returning to america felt shunned by the "new" american society. they are scattered throughout the hills and jungles of hawaii and the pacific northwest.
- Explains that of the 3.5 million veterans in the us, 479,000 cases are serious and another 350,000 have moderate symptoms. suicide amongst vietnam veterans is also apparent.
- Opines that the vietnam war can be reflected on by those in generation-x through hear-say, reading, and movies, but one will never fully understand the true feelings between the veterans and society in america.
1591 wordsRead More - U.S. Involvement in the Vietnam Warexplanatory essayAlthough it was called the Vietnam War, the U.S. was primarily involved and participated in most of the warfare to defend democracy. South Vietnam's government and army were not well organized. The U.S. fought most of the war, then when it turned the war over to the South Vietnamese, they couldn't fight the North.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the u.s. participated in most of the war to defend democracy. south vietnam's government and army were not well organized.
- Explains that ngo dinh diem, prime minister of south vietnam, was opposed by buddhists in hue, and his brother, nguyen nhu, imprisoned or killed virtually anyone who opposed him.
- Explains that the u.s. didn't fight for vietnam right away, sending military advisors and goods to vietnam. the army of the republic of vietnam (arvn) was mostly helicopters, and armored personnel carriers.
- Describes how the u.s. was running two operations in the tonkin gulf: oplan 34a, desoto, and the maddox.
- Describes how the 1st infantry division prepared the arvn for the eventual departure of u.s. combat troops. the 199th brigade instituted training programs for regional and popular force units.
- Analyzes how the junta wrestled with one another in saigon and in the provinces, resulting in political turmoil.
- Explains that the tonkin gulf resolution pulled the u.s. further into the vietnam war.
- Narrates how nixon signed the paris accords with le duc tho, nguyen van thieu, and nixon. the north attacked the south but gerald ford and congress did not want to get involved in vietnam.
- Cites butterfield, fox, casey, michael, and michael. the vietnam experience: the army at war.
- Cites dougan, clark, and lipsman's the vietnam experience: a nation divided. doyle, edward, maitland and kendrick, alexander.
1139 wordsRead More - Lyndon B. Johnson in Officeanalytical essayThe conflict in Vietnam was a situation where no matter which path taken, more negative than positive effects would hit the US and their allies. President Lyndon B Johnson took office after the assassination of JFK and now controlled a grieving nation. During the mid 1960s, Unites States President Lyndon B Johnson was forced to make a decision about the future in Vietnam. Any action he took would significantly affect those in the US who were still recovering from the death of a beloved president. Johnson and his advisors quickly narrowed their options down to three distinct options, all with what seemed to provide minimal benefit to the American people. Those three avenues of approach included pulling out all troops already in Vietnam, inserting thousands of more troops into Vietnam, or seeking neutralization over the countries of North and South Vietnam. President Johnson, while considering his options, was highly concerned with “The Domino Theory,” the threat of communism in Southern Asia; however he was also concerned about his image as president. With that being said, he knew that this was a deteriorating situation in Vietnam and no matter what path was chosen, he would face criticism. President Johnson, along with his advisors, procrastinated as long as they could to “pick their poison,” deciding that inserting combat troops was the best way to obtain economic and strategic value in Southern Asia.
In this essay, the author
- Describes how president lyndon b johnson was forced to make a decision about the future in vietnam after the assassination of jfk.
- Analyzes how president johnson's rise to power at home in the us was directly proportional to fall of power in deteriorating south vietnam.
- Explains that lyndon b johnson had three options of how to take on vietnam in front of him, and he took much time consulting with advisors.
- Explains that the president and his advisors questioned themselves constantly about the importance of the countries in southeast asia. the domino theory said if one country falls to communism, others will fall one after another.
- Narrates how the vietcong's attacks against the us troops and what was left of the south became a tipping point for johnson, who realized he needed to bite the bullet despite not having the nerve to do it.
- Explains that president johnson was placed into the vietnam conflict with no way to get around it. after the assassination of john f kennedy, he realized that the ongoing problem in vietnam was worse.
879 wordsRead More - The USA Should NOT Have Entered the Vietnam Waropinion essayThe Vietnam War took place in between 1947- 1975. It consisted of North Vietnam trying to make South Vietnam a communism government. The United States later joined this conflict because of the stress North Vietnam was putting to South Vietnam to become a government that America did not want. The main reason why America joined was because of a theory called the Domino Effect. America and Russia were going through what has been dubbed the Cold War. The Domino Effect is the theory that communism will spread form one country to another. United states does not want this because our government is a democracy and communism opposes everything we stand for. America fearing communism was growing, stepped into Vietnam with America’s interest in mind, instead of Vietnam’s. There are several reason why American should have not gotten involved with this war. The most important reason was that America government officials made to much of a big deal about communism. This might sound cynical, but America to a certain degree did over react. Let it be said that it is much easier to say this after the fact. By looking back at McCarthyism, we can see the silliness of this fear. There is a serious side though. Thousands of people dies for a government that has no impact of their daily life. What regime Vietnam was going to change over to had no effect on the every day cycle of the United States. So truly, one can say, this can not one thing to do with America, its government and people.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the united states' involvement in the vietnam war is a gigantic change from prior wars.
- Explains that america joined the vietnam war because of the domino effect, which is the theory that communism will spread from one country to another.
- Opines that vietnam never should have involved the united states because of the death toll.
- Explains that the u.s. government recognized their mistakes in the first place and made laws that "fixed" or prevented chaos from happening again.
- Opines that there have been fair arguments against the theories presented here. they might disagree with the way of just ignored the conflicts going on aboard.
- Opines that the question of why we did not fight in vietnam was a necessity.
945 wordsRead More - Lyndon B. Johnson and American Liberalismopinion essayBefore I read this book, I knew almost nothing about LBJ. I had no opinion of him, good or bad. I can't even really remember hearing much about him. So I was given the rare opportunity to formulate an opinion without any personal bias, and despite popular opinion, I really like Lyndon Johnson. Despite his shady political methods (which is actually nothing unusual in politics), he was a man who knew how to get things done. I think people criticize Johnson too quickly. Although the distrust Johnson received from Americans may have been well deserved (when he with-held the truth about the escalating situation in Vietnam), how can one man be held responsible for Vietnam. Johnson didn't start the war, he simply inherited it from Kennedy. Sure, he could have withdrew from Vietnam, but when he started sending troops, he did so at the discretion of his advisors and with the support of the American people. But when Vietnam turned into the horrible "unnecessary" disaster it is remembered as, everyone backed off and Johnson was left to blame. I think the book did an excellent job showing the awesome pressure a president (who people often forget, is just another human being), is put under during a war.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how schulman's biography of lyndon b. johnson outlines his life beginning in rural texas and followed the ups and downs of his political career.
- Analyzes how the book follows johnson's political career, from a eager hard-working congressional secretary to the landslide victor of the 1964 presidential election.
- Opines that lyndon johnson was a man who knew how to get things done despite his shady political methods.
- Opines that the brief biography of lyndon johnson portrays both the positive and negative aspects of his political career.
352 wordsRead More - Vietnam Waranalytical essayThe Vietnam War was the longest war in America's history of involvement. Twenty years of hell, land mines, cross-fire, and death. Vietnam was divided by the Geneva Accord. The north being communist run by Ho Chi Minh. The south being anti-Communist run by Ngo Dinh Diem. Before Vietnam was separated, it was run by France. France had ruled most of Indochina since the late 1800s. The Vietnamese were unhappy with the way the French were controlling, therefore, many of them took refuge in China. When in China, they began to follow the lead of Ho Chi Minh, who wanted to model the Vietnamese Declaration of Independence as that of the U.S. version. In the 1940s, Japan had taken over Vietnam which upset Ho Chi Minh and his revolutionaries when they had returned a year later.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the vietnam war was the longest war in america's history of involvement. vietnam was divided by the geneva accord.
- Analyzes how the u.s. spent nearly one billion dollars in order to help france regain control of the tiny country.
- Explains how ngo dinh diem, a catholic, decided that the 1956 election should be canceled so that minh could not gain control of the whole country.
- Explains that before president kennedy was assassinated, he had planned to pull out of vietnam, but it was too late. lyndon b. johnson was in power, and america had officially entered the war through the tonkin gulf resolution.
- Explains that many americans were outraged by the news of america joining the war. johnson had gone back on his word, which helped him win the election of 1964.
740 wordsRead More - Lbj And Its Impact On The Vietnam Waranalytical essayLBJ like his predecessors was committed to maintaining an independent South Vietnam and to achieving success in Southeast Asia against the rising tide of Communism. From his years as a Senator, LBJ followed the “containment theory”, in which he felt that if Vietnam fell, other Asian nations would also. LBJ also a purveyor of history, did not want to be remembered as the president who let Southeast Asia fall to Communism.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that lbj became president after kennedy's assassination and promised the nation he would continue to pursue the essence of what kennedy was striving for.
- Explains that lbj, like his predecessors, was committed to maintaining an independent south vietnam and achieving success in southeast asia against the rising tide of communism.
- Explains how lbj pushed through a national security agency memorandum on november 26, 1963, which directed the u.s. government to assist the people of south vietnam to win their contest against the externally directed and supported communist conspiracy.
- Explains that lbj was hesitant due to 1964 being an election year. in august 1964 in the gulf of tonkin, u.s. naval ships were attacked.
- Explains that lbj set out to establish a peace process in vietnam, and truly did not want the war to escalate.
- Describes how lbj ordered "operation rolling thunder", which was the continual bombardment of north vietnam. the tet offensive failed miserably, but showed the u.s back home what was going on
- Analyzes how lbj's popularity in his own party plummeted, and he declined any nomination to run. the conflict in vietnam brought him nothing but pain and frustration during his last months in office.
718 wordsRead More - The Vietnam War and The Tonkin Gulf Resolutionexplanatory essayThe Vietnam War lasted from the winter of 1956 to the spring of 1975. The Vietnam War was a domesticated civil war between the communist, North Vietnam, and the democratic, South Vietnam. The North was supported by the Chinese communist, and the leader Ho Chi Minh. The Vietnam War introduced the United States to the Vietcong and Guerrilla warfare. During this time, the United States faced our own battles at home between two social groups called the Doves and the Hawks. This war was very divisive. The Doves protested and Hawks shunned them. Young men without money were being drafted while others went to college, got a medical note, or fled the country. Tensions were already high in the United States when Congress passed Public Law 88- 408, also known as the Tonkin Gulf Resolution.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the tonkin gulf resolution allowed the united states to commit its forces without declaring a full, blown out war.
- Describes the vietnam war as a domesticated civil war between the communist, north vietnam, and the democratic, south vietnam.
- Explains that the tonkin gulf resolution gave the president a great deal of power, even if what he was doing didn't always make sense.
- Explains that leahy, stephen m., and williams, charles f. "war powers: a new chapter in a continuing debate."
- Explains the avalon project - the tonkin gulf incident; 1964. lillian goldman law library, n.d. web.
931 wordsRead More - Dwight D Rustin's Leadership Styleexplanatory essayLyndon B. Johnson was the successor of John Kennedy (1964). He wasn’t into fighting the Vietnamese war though he feared that he would be considered to be soft on communism which was going to be seen as a weakness, and jeopardize the congressional support for his domestic plans. But this changed after the North Vietnamese gunboats made 2 attempts against U.S ships, and congress passed the gulf of Tonkin resolution that empowered the president to repel any armed attacks against the forces of the U.S and to prevent further aggression giving Johnson the unlimited power to make military decisions.
In this essay, the author
- Narrates how earl warren was appointed by president dwight d. eisenhower to be chief justice of the supreme court in nineteen-fifty-three. he convinced roosevelt to order the relocation of one hundred and ten thousand japanese americans.
- Explains that bayard rustin was a homosexual pacifist who worked outside of regular political and social channels. he joined the young communist league because of its commitment to economic justice, racial equality and international peace.
- Explains that john kennedy was a democrat who went from congressman to senator of massachusetts and was elected president at the age of forty-three. the kennedy administration focused mostly on fighting and winning the cold wars abroad with the first one happening in cuba.
- Explains that lyndon b. johnson was the successor of john kennedy. he wasn't into fighting the vietnam war though he feared that it would be considered a weakness and jeopardize the congressional support for his domestic plans.
- Describes betty friedan as an american feminist, journalist, writer, and author of "the feminine mystique". she and like-minded women formed the national organization for women (now).
- Describes the various movements, organizations, and parties that stood up to fight for their rights in america and the conflict america had with the vietnamese.
500 wordsRead More