The Vietnam War, the nations longest war, cost fifty-eight thousand American lives. Only the Civil War and the two World Wars were deadlier ("Vietnam War-). The U.S. Treasury spent over $140 billion on the war, enough money to fund urban renewal projects in every major American city ("Vietnam War-). The initial reasons for U.S. involvement in Vietnam seemed logical and compelling to American leaders. Following its success in WWII, the U.S. faced the future with a sense of moral rectitude and material confidence ("Vietnam War-). There were actually two phases of the War. During the first phase, which began in 1946, the Vietnamese fought France for control of Vietnam. At that time, Vietnam was part of the colony of French Indochina (Pike 373). The Vietnam War was actually the second phase of fighting in Vietnam (373). With everything going on in Vietnam and the United States, everything was falling apart including the governments, moral issues, and the cities. The fight for the U.S. was led by many famous American presidents, five to be exact. The aftermath and turmoil of this war was a catastrophe, considering Vietnam still became a Communist country.
How did the war start? Well, the French wanted colonialism throughout Vietnam. North Vietnam wanted a communist country and South wanted a non-communist - pro-American government. America just favored Vietnam's independence and supported South Vietnam, surprising Ho Chi Minh [leader of the North] ("Vietnam War-). The United States aid to France and later non-communist South Vietnam was based on a policy of President Harry S. Truman. He had declared that the U.S. must help any nation threatened by Communists (Pike 373). President Dwight D. Eisenhower increased the level of aid, about $2 ½ billion worth, just to get defeated by the Vietminh in the famous battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954 (Seah 24). The U.S. had a great deal of difficulty in holding the army together in South Vietnam and saw only one solution, that was to start taking care of things for themselves ("War in Vietnam-).
The Vietnam War was a war we could not win and could not afford to lose. ... The Vietnam War was the first war that Americans were actually able to watch on their home television. ... In 1973 North and South Vietnam came to terms to end the war. ... Northern Vietnam agrees to return all Prisoners of war. ... STATISTICS "No event in history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. ...
Vietnam War To many, the Vietnam War symbolizes controversy, myth and question in America. ... Other weaponry made its debut in the Vietnam War. ... The Vietnam War was the first war that the anti-tank missile launcher was effectively used. ... The Vietnam War has been said on countless occasions to be the most photographed war in history. ... The Vietnam War was very confusing, especially as it was going on. ...
The Vietnam War The Vietnam War was a brutal war that affected millions of people in many different countries. All wars start because their is a difference in people's opinions, and the Vietnam War was no different. ... To find out why the war broke out you will have to go back to the 1750's. ... Then in 1946 a communist educated individual called Ho Chi Minh organized the people of North Vietnam and drove out the French rulers in a war that took eight years. ... Communist guerrillas in South Vietnam opposing the canceled election began attacks on Southern Vietnam and remaini...
The Vietnam War began in 1960 with the introduction of American troops into Vietnam. ... Australia fought in the Vietnam War from 1965 until 1972. ... The North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong were fighting to unify North Vietnam and South Vietnam as a communist country. ... The fear of communism eventually overtaking Australia was the initial and main reason for Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War. ... The Vietnam War has influenced the thinking of many Australian's on the need to work towards a peaceful resolution. ...
The Vietnam War occurred at an interesting time in the development of television. ... By the time the Vietnam War escalated in the mid-1960s, television was ready to capture the war's images and most Americans were able to watch in their homes. ... As a result of this commentary, news coverage of the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1970 influenced the American public's opinion of the war effort. ... CBS was the news leader during the Vietnam War years. ... It would be an incorrect assumption to blame the public's disagreement about the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1...
The Vietnam War was the most controversial war in U.S. history. ... It was also the biggest turning point in the Vietnam War. ... In this campaign alone more bombs were dropped on North Vietnam than were used in the whole of World War II. ... The amount of war refugees in Vietnam amounted to over 10 million. ... The Vietnam War was a very controversial war, which lasted over a decade. ...
The Vietnam War was the most controversial war in U.S. history. ... It was also the biggest turning point in the Vietnam War. ... In this campaign alone more bombs were dropped on North Vietnam than were used in the whole of World War II. ... The amount of war refugees in Vietnam amounted to over 10 million. ... The Vietnam War was a very controversial war, which lasted over a decade. ...