Throughout the past century, there have been numerous controversial topics from suffrage to slavery. Perhaps one of the most controversial, at least in my opinion, was the war in Vietnam. Even today, right now, if you ask someone what he or she thinks about the Vietnam War, you are sure to get an earful. But, while opinions have their place, the real questions still linger. How did this war start? What was the United States involvement in the war? Lastly, was the price that the United States paid worth it? These are the questions I posed to myself, and then set out to try and answer here, in this paper.
The Vietnamese War, as defined to me in the New Standard Encyclopedia, was " an undeclared war for the control of South Vietnam, starting in 1957 and ending in 1975." The war began as a Communist guerrilla campaign supported by North Vietnam, who sought control of South Vietnam. The United States feared that Communism would spread, and President Eisenhower's Domino Theory was born. By 1965 the United States assumed a major role when units of Marines became the first combat troops in South Vietnam. In April, the first North Vietnamese regular units infiltrated South Vietnam. President Johnson increased United States involvement in July of that same year by strengthening arms by 125,000 men. By the end of 1965, there were 181,000 American troops along with troops sent by South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. .
August of 1968 was without a doubt the bloodiest and most horrific year of the war that the American soldiers had to endure. This was the year of the Tet Offensive, which had started in January of that year with the North Vietnamese launching major attacks on more than 30 major cities. The Communists were driven out after weeks of never ending battles during which they suffered substantial losses. The onslaught weakened the newly elected South Vietnamese government, set back efforts of pacification, and brought to the forefront American outcries for peace.
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. ...
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-). ... Nixon ("War in Vietnam-). ... The Vietnam War was one of the best wars lost. ... That is the Vietnam War....
