Narrative...
The Vietnam War was a controversial war, deemed to be “the only war America ever lost.” It was the culmination of threatening communist forces in Vietnam. The communist government of North Vietnam was pitted against the democratic government of South Vietnam.The United States joined the Republic of South Vietnam and the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) in its fight against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army. The war officially began on November 1st, 1955 and ended on April 30th, 1975, lasting 20 years. Leader Ho Chi Minh rose to power during World War 2 by forming the Viet Minh, an independence league. In 1964, North Vietnamese boats allegedly destroyed the U.S.S Maddox and the U.S.S Turner Joy, two navy ships. This event was the start of direct American involvement in the war. A particular distinction of the Vietnam War is the reaction generated by those on the homefront. This is due in part to increased media coverage of the war, which revealed the barbarity of war and horrified the public. There was many a misconstrued rumor concerning the actions of the soldiers in Vietnam as well, giving rise to the mistaken idea that all soldiers killed young children. These developments resulted in riots organized by the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). Notable was the protest at Kent State University, which erupted in violence. This caused over 4 million students to go on strike. When Vietnam soldiers returned from duty, they did not receive the warm welcome of the past, and many concealed the fact that they were veterans from friends and coworkers. Towards the end of the war, the United States took measures to get out of the war, one such measure was Vietnamization, which was the American efforts to hand the war over to South Vietnam. In 1973, the United States, signed a peace agreement with North Vietnam. Two years later, North Vietnam captured the city of Saigon and became unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Since this was a victory for the communist forces in North Vietnam, it was considered a loss for America. After two decades of fighting, there were 60,000 U.S casualties and over 2,000,000 civilian casualties on both sides. The Vietnam war was one of the most significant conflicts during the cold war and continues to influence the world today. A particular distinction of the Vietnam War is the reaction generated by those on the homefront. This is due in part to increased media coverage of the war, which revealed the barbarity of war and horrified the public. There was many a misconstrued rumor concerning the actions of the soldiers in Vietnam as well, giving rise to the mistaken idea that all soldiers killed young children. These developments resulted in riots organized by the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). Notable was the protest at Kent State University, which erupted in violence. This caused over 4 million students to go on strike. When Vietnam soldiers returned from duty, they did not receive the warm welcome of the past, and many concealed the fact that they were veterans from friends and coworkers.
Timeline...
The years following World War II saw the beginnings of the Cold War, which further widened the gap between the East and West through communism. Many of the world’s superpowers considered the Vietnam power struggle as a global struggle to contain communism. As a result of the Cold War, the United States experienced change in international relations, such as increased involvement in communist affairs, and domestic changes, such as the baby boom and suburbanization. Unlike other international conflicts, the Vietnam War is considered a failed war because the U.S. was unable to prevent communist forces from taking over North Vietnam. The international global policy between 1955 and 1975 continues to affect foreign relations today.
The years following World War II saw the beginnings of the Cold War, which further widened the gap between the East and West through communism. Many of the world’s superpowers considered the Vietnam power struggle as a global struggle to contain communism. As a result of the Cold War, the United States experienced change in international relations, such as increased involvement in communist affairs, and domestic changes, such as the baby boom and suburbanization. Unlike other international conflicts, the Vietnam War is considered a failed war because the U.S. was unable to prevent communist forces from taking over North Vietnam. The international global policy between 1955 and 1975 continues to affect foreign relations today.
Essential Questions....
1. How can the Vietnam War be compared to other instances of global history? Specifically, can it be compared to other conflicts or wars against communism? Why or why not?
The Vietnam War can be compared to two other instances of global history such as the policy of containment and specifically the Korean War, because both of these significant acts and events took place during the cold war. The policy of containment was a policy created by the US in order to make sure that there was no spread of communism. This policy was used in both the Vietnam and Korean War.
2. Previous wars, including, the Korean War, caused the deaths of thousands of American soldiers, yet the United States kept fighting. Despite the large number of casualties, why were U.S. soldiers still willing to fight in the Vietnam War? Did the Vietnam War influence how Americans viewed the conflict against communism?
The Vietnam War was a conflict that was dragged on for 20 years, and the American people began to question whether or not this was a war they should be fighting for. The American people began to ask questions such as “why does this matter to us?”. Overtime, Americans grew weary of fighting in wars that were all the way across the globe. The Cold War at this point was a long, drawn out conflict that had no relevance in most people’s lives, and people began to think innocent Americans were being killed for absolutely no reason. U.S soldiers were still willing to fight in the Vietnam War because many soldiers, like Bill Dixon, didn’t even know what they were fighting for. The Vietnam War changed Americans view on the Cold War because people began to grow weary of the fact that so many people were dying for a cause they could not even control.
3. Although there wasn’t as much visible fighting as previous wars, the Vietnam War still lasted for a very long time. Despite the facts, why do you think the war is essential to study in history over conflicts which resulted in more deaths ?
The Vietnam War brought to life the containment policy that was commonly used to fight communism. The war was not just a fight between communist and non-communist forces. Rather, it portrayed the international conflicts between France and Vietnam as well. The war was a result of imperialism, domestic tensions, communism, and the sentiments of the time period. The war teaches that losing a war does not necessary mean losing the battles. The war is considered a failed cause because it did not achieve its main goal. This conflict is worthy of learning about because it shows sometimes things change for the better if mistakes are made in the beginning.
4. The Vietnam War ended with a treaty that split Vietnam along the 17th parallel and divided the country into North and South, but tensions were still prevalent between communist and democratic forces. How did the historical situation of the time period (1955- 1975) affect the overall outcome of the war?
During 1975, the cold war was starting to come to an end, but the disparities between communist and democratic nations were still very common. The 1970's are marked by the fight for equality for women, African Americans, Native Americans, and homosexuals. The movement to spread equality affected the Vietnam War as Americans viewed it as an oppression of the Vietnam government. Anti-war propaganda included soldiers depriving the Vietnamese of their rights. The underlying values of the time period influenced public opinion about the war in Vietnam, the fight against communism, and the increased differences between North and South Vietnam.
5. Did President Nixon’s involvement in the war without the official approval of Congress influence how the American public felt about the active role of the U.S. in the war?
It led to the Vietnam war becoming one of the most misunderstood wars in history. Many people were against Nixon, especially with the release of the Pentagon Papers. These papers revealed secrets that Congress was keeping from the public, this in turn caused the public to turn on the Congress even more.
Vietnam Artifacts...
The Podcast....
https://soundcloud.com/jessica-bauman-645393783/the-vietnam-war
Works Cited...
History.com Staff. “Vietnam War.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2009,
www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history.
Singer, Max. “The Vietnam Fallacy.” National Review, National Review, 16 June 2010, www.nationalreview.com/2006/11/vietnam-fallacy-max-singer/.
Spector, Ronald H. “Vietnam War.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 11
Jan. 2018, www.britannica.com/event/Vietnam-War.
“Vietnam War.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war.
Banner Picture:
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-reston-vietnam-refought-20170903-story.html