Josh Freelove 4/13/23 Composition II Vietnam: The Pointless War During the Vietnam War on average 19 U.S soldiers would die every single day. The Vietnam war lasted from November first, 1955 until April 30, 1975 and to this day Americans are still divided on why this conflict even happened. In the end of the war, South Vietnam fell to communism. The whole reason that America entered the war was to prevent South Vietnam from falling to communism. Some American people feel like this was a pointless war and that it left a big stain on America's history. The war did horrible things to the American economy like driving up inflation and using funds for American programs for the war. Horrible acts were done to the land and agriculture of vietnam …show more content…
At the time of the war many American citizens opposed the war effort publicly even marching on capitol cities to show the government their opposition. As a result of the war, the American public forever lost their trust of the government and the Vietnamese people and landscape suffered the long term effects of the bombings and Agent Orange. The Vietnam War should not have happened because it caused economic and agricultural struggles, millions of deaths, and horrible long term effects. First, the Vietnam War hurt both the U.S and Vietnam in agriculture and the economy. The Vietnam War severely damaged the U.S. economy. President Lyndon B. Johnson unleashed a cycle of inflation because he was unwilling to raise taxes to pay for the war. (The Wars Consequences 2021) Money that was supposed to be used in American programs, ended up getting put into war efforts. (The Negative Impact of the Vietnam War on American People. 2023) “During the Vietnam War, the USA spent $828 …show more content…
But also using the strong herbicide of Agent Orange on the rice paddies would take away the enemies resources of food. This mass bombing and dropping of this chemical agent had mass effects on the land and people of Vietnam. Agent Orange caused birth defects in children across the country such as spina bifida, oral clefts, cardiovascular defects, hip dislocations and hypospadias. On top of that, defects in the digestive tract and other neoplasms like neuroblastoma were also higher in Vietnamese children born during or after the war and Vietnam veterans' children. Vietnam also was a major rice exporter before the war. But the widespread destruction of land from bombings and the use of Agent Orange made it so that Vietnam could not even produce enough food for its own population (The Vietnam War. 2023). Although, on the homefront, there were different long term effects from the war. American citizens who once listened to every word the government would tell them, started to majorly distrust the government, lots of this distrust is present today. The war made us cynical and distrustful of our institutions and government. For many Americans, it eroded the notion, once nearly universal, that part of being an American was serving your country. In the article Marlantes says “Before the Vietnam War, most
Agent Orange was a various mixture of many chemicals combined together to expose the hidings of the Northern and Viet Cong Troops throughout the forest, also to exterminate those plants and herbs that they may use that are consumable and of use to the Vietnamese army. From the years of 1961 to 1972 many acres of Vietnam land were sprayed with Agent Orange, approximately over 19 millions gallons were used across 4.5 million acres. Alongside Agent Orange it was a war of attrition, back and forth trying to make one another weaker with simple plans as weakening them would strengthen and conquer the other. They waited one another out, the U.S. had plans of destroying their hidings spots and plants they’d use as a food source so they would be hungry and less prepared for combat. They were only invading troops, not knowing many strategies for engaging and weakening their biggest opportunity was with the agent orange to atleast get rid of some of their food supplies so they’ll be hungry and not be able to fight much or even perform
There were many devastating effects of the Vietnam War. When America entered the war, we lost thousands of soldiers. The massive United States bombing of North and South Vietnam left the country destroyed. The use of Agent Orange not only put Vietnam’s environment in danger, but it also caused many health problems for our own troops and other innocent people. In terms of the government, presidents were trying very hard to win the war but weren’t very successful.
The Vietnam War was one of the longest, and the most costly war in America 's history. Vietnam War was primarily fought in Vietnam from 1959 to 1975 and never reaches United States shores. This disastrous war was fought between North Vietnamese and it allies Viet Cong against the United States of America and the South Vietnamese army. As most war are known to me bloody and cruel, The Vietnam War was especially cruel and devastating, it took the lives of millions of Vietnamese civilians. Civilians who will never get to see their country united under one banner, and unfortunately thousands of Americans solider lives were regrettably taken because of the war, names of those solider are forever written on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Wall, a permanent
War is the medicine for a bad foreign policy and with the side effects of death and mental illness. The united states joined the Vietnam due to the domino theory. The Unites States was trying to contain communism from spreading. The Vietnam war was one of the wars the United States joined that failed to stop the spread of communism. The Vietnam war brought a lot of deaths of American soldiers.
The issue surrounding the Vietnam War was the Viet Cong, North Vietnam, supported the idea of communism, whereas the South supporters were against it. This created a lot of tension with the leaders of
The Vietnam war was a troubling war that lasted from 1955 to 1975. It was located in Vietnam and was fought by the U.S., as well as North and South Vietnam. There was bloodshed from both sides and many innocent lives lost. The Vietnam war was not only a troubling time in Vietnam, but also for the United States. Richard Nixon was the United States president at the time of the war and was the one that pushed America into joining the war, but realized he only cared about winning.
The Vietnam War was tragic for everybody in it and around it. The Vietnam War was long and costly. More than 3 million people, including 58,000 Americans, were killed in the war. Soldiers that either volunteered or were drafted, 1 out of 10 soldiers were injured or killed during Vietnam. 11,000 were woman and some were nurses, but some were translators, flight controllers and military bandleaders.
The Vietnam War is known as the first war America “lost.” The loss of lives was a devastating number. The American government was very secretive as to their plans in Vietnam. Although President Johnson said that the US had no desire to get involved in the war, he and close government officials prepared in case they truly needed to go to war. The public was eased into a false sense of security.
The Vietnam war was the longest, considered one of the most important, and expensive war in our history. The United States became involved in Vietnam since we promised that we would fight against anyone who supports communism. American government thought this would be a short, uncomplicated war to win seeing that Vietnam is a third world country. As the war went on American citizens thought twice regarding our involvement in the war because of; billions of dollars were lost, our government was lying to us, and thousands of American lives were lost. America had robust intentions to try to stop communism from spreading to South Vietnam, however the outcomes of this war were too overpowering to call this war a success.
The Vietnam War was one of the most divisive wars of all time. It changed how many people view the country and war and social ideas as a whole. It created the heated political parties we have today, It lead to one of the biggest anti war movements for a while, and also helped shape the future for civil rights at the time. The Vietnam War may have been one of the most polarizing war but it was also extremely important to the shaping of this country.
The Vietnam War was a war the United States should have never been involved in. The “Domino Theory” was a direct cause of the war. The war resulted in much death; innocent civilians and young Americans were killed. The Vietnam war also resulted in rioting, distrust for the United States government, and the loss of many lives. 58,000 Americans were killed and 300,000 were wounded.
When the long lasted Vietnam war ended in April of 1975, more than five thousands of Americans had been killed. Years after, American still suffered from far-reaching post-war consequences. The Vietnam War has affected the U.S. economically, socially, and politically. First, the war decreased the U.S. economy.
According to WorldAtlas.com, the use of these chemicals in the Vietnam War created the second worst chemical warfare event in history, second only to an event in 600 BCE. In an article stating the top 10 worst chemical warfare events in history World Atlas justifies the Vietnam War being the second worst with, “Agent Orange itself breaks down within a week, as a result producing a compound called dioxin. Dioxin lingers in some conditions for up to 100 years and is estimated by the Vietnamese government to have caused up to 400,000 deaths, and 1.5 million birth defects.” The backlash to the use of these chemicals was huge, and the U.S. government was the main target for supporting the production and use of these disliked weapons. After they were exposed for using these chemicals, even more people opposed the war and the US’ decisions.
1. What problems did the United States face in the Vietnam War? As the United States struggled against communism in Vietnam, it would face many problems. In the late 1950’s President Eisenhower and later President Kennedy sent military supplies and advisers to South Vietnam. Despite the American aid the Vietcong grew stronger with support from North Vietnam.
The United States was a big role in the Vietnam War. They feel like it is necessary to be involved. A few reasons that caused the United States to be allied with South Vietnam are communism, Truman Doctrine, and reunification. The Vietnam War started in 1954.