Vietnam War Paper - 1273 Words

The Vietnam War escalated from a Vietnamese civil war into a limited international conflict, in which the United States was deeply involved. The Vietnam War was fought in South Vietnam between government forces aided by the United States and guerilla forces aided by the North Vietnamese. Despite increased American military involvement and signed peace agreements in 1973, the Vietnam War did not end until North Vietnams successful invasion of South Vietnam in 1975. The Vietnam War may have been the longest war in American history, but after South Vietnam collapsed, America was left to question their highly controversial involvement in a lost cause. The Vietnam War originated as a civil war between the North and South. However, soon†¦show more content†¦Initially, the United States patrolled international waters with lawfully present naval vessels, assisting Vietnam to protect their freedom, having no territorial, military, or political ambitions in that area, but desires only that these peoples should be left in peace to work their own destinies in their own way. However, the Northern Vietnamese did not welcome American naval vessels, as they deliberately and repeatedly attacked United States naval vessels lawfully present in international waters. The attacks got the attention of the American public, prodding the government for retaliation. The United States issued the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in 1964. It said that Congress empowered the President, as Command in Chief, to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the U.S. and to prevent further aggression. Most importantly, the memorandum gave the President the permission to retaliate North Vietnams threats to international peace, as the attacks were reason enough for further American involvement in Vietnam, as well as an escalation of military forces. In June 1965, the United States government began to realize that under present conditions, the odds of winning the fight in Vietnam are unlikely, as the ratio of guerilla to anti-guerilla forces is 10-1. However, President Johnson vowed that he would not be the first President to lose a country to Communism,Show MoreRelatedVietnam War Position Paper2011 Words   |  9 PagesVietnam War â€Å"You never knew who was the enemy and who was the friends,† said a marine officer who took part in a conflict deemed the longest war in Unites States history (My). The Vietnam War was not only the longest war in US history, as it took place from 1959 to 1975, but it is also considered one of the most controversial conflicts to date. This war, also known as the second Indochina War, occurred in the countries of Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. It was fought between communist North VietnamRead MoreResearch Papers for Vietnam War1341 Words   |  6 PagesVietnam War Research Paper: During the 30 years of XX century Vietnam was at war. It all started in the 1940†²s, when the Communists fought against French colonial rule, and was completed in 1975 with the fall of Saigon. The period, which the Vietnamese know as the â€Å"American War† and the Americans call the â€Å"Vietnam War†, lasted from 1965 to 1973, during the time of the U.S. intervention. The communist leader Ho Chi Minh led his forces based in the north and defeated the French in 1954Read MoreThe War Of The Vietnam War1379 Words   |  6 Pagestensions over the Vietnam war caused many americans to become divided on the actions taken by the government across seas. Americans questioned whether the government could be trusted. The feeling of betrayal and government secrecy created the â€Å"Credibility Gap,† in which many americans believed that the government no longer was for the people, but for anything else that would benefit the government. The Vietnam War exacerbated the gap between the pro-war traditionalists and anti-war liberals along withRead MoreThe Vietnam War Was The Biggest Failure Of The 20th Century1628 Words   |  7 PagesThe Vietnam War The Vietnam War is one of the most controversial wars the United States participated in. Communism in the 20th century, was a huge threat to the U.S. It become a priority of the U.S. to stop the spread of Communism. In the late 1940s, the French struggled to control its colonies in Indochina - Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos (history.state.gov). The U.S. saw that the French were struggling in south Vietnam so they decided to come and help France. They tried to support France and theRead More Social Attitudes Toward Vietnam Veterans Essay1562 Words   |  7 PagesToward Vietnam Veterans I have always been interested in the Vietnam War and the results of â€Å"the longest war in America.† Therefore, I have decided to examine the social attitudes toward Vietnam veterans. Since I feel so passionately about the way that Vietnam veterans are viewed, the purpose of my paper is to inform others about the way that the veterans have been criticized and misrepresented. Personally, I hope to gain a further understanding of the attitudes and views towards Vietnam veteransRead MoreTaking a Closer Look at Vietnamese Culture Essay1145 Words   |  5 PagesThe Vietnamese culture is one that is complex, from the years of war until today where the country, its culture and economy is booming. Vietnam has had its ups and it downs, but the country’s ability to recover and rebuild is important and has played a significant part with where they stand today. Let’s get into the complex meaning of culture and then explore Vietnam and its culture. If you search the word culture, there are various meanings that will arise. Culture is the total of the inheritedRead MoreVietnam War Survey / For Use With O Brien s Things They Carried929 Words   |  4 PagesVietnam War Survey/ For Use with O’Brien’s Things They Carried The year was 1955, when the war of Vietnam had started. Only it had begun in early November, the days were cold and crisp. Ho Chi Minh, the communist leader in North Vietnam. Ho’s main goal was to engender all of Vietnam into a single state; which inaugurates the Vietnam War. The New World Encyclopedia explains, â€Å"U.S. deployed large numbers of military personnel to south Vietnam. U.S. military advisers first became involved in VietnamRead MoreWhat Role Did the American Media Play in the Vietnam War1741 Words   |  7 Pageskeep them in business. Media’s Importance and Limitations: Sometimes the media can under-report events such as the war in Afghanistan. The Afghan War was one of the most under-reported wars in United States history. In 2010, only four percent of American newspaper media was devoted to the Afghan War (Hanrahan). The American people had substantially limited information about the war; therefore opinions about it were rather vast—some supported it, while others did not. A major reason for this was theRead MoreThe United States Involvement During The Vietnam War947 Words   |  4 Pagesthose conflicts have turned out into wars. Looking back at America’s â€Å"track record† with war, America has a worthy past of having its citizen’s support. Obviously the two World Wars we not controversial. The United States in the Korean War was criticized, fairly, for its strategy, but the need to defend South Korea was never questioned. In only the Vietnam War was the United States’ very participation criticized. This is s uch a gigantic change with prior wars that it bears study as to why it happenedRead MoreAmerica s Revolutionary Party Of Vietnam Essay1662 Words   |  7 Pagesdiscussion of Vietnam War, is one that still is every more common among scholars of American Society, common not without controversy. The controversy surrounding the Vietnam War often is centered in U.S. mentality of playing â€Å"savior â€Å" and appearing to be only great, while not owning up or recognizing their faults. There is a common belief among many people that the remembering the vietnam war is no longer important. Those who hold this belief, also believe that the there is no reason to harp on a war that