Detrimental Effects of the Vietnam War - 2579 Words

The Vietnam War was, and continues to be, one of Americas darkest moments, one that nearly tore the nation apart. In order to stop the spread of communism in Europe and Asia, the United States aided French imperialists and their reoccupation of Vietnam. At first, the U.S took a position of neutrality to both countries, but by early 1947, they began fighting in support of France. This war, lasting over 20 years, became the longest and most unpopular war in the 20th century. Overall, the Vietnam War was detrimental to the United States because it caused a massive debt from the 1960s to the 1990s, turned the American people against their government, and many troops were neglected and despised upon their return. According to Dictionary.com,†¦show more content†¦They speculated that if one land in a region came under the influence of Communism, the surrounding countries would follow in a domino-like effect. (Small) So basically, once one country turns to Communism, all the surrounding countries will follow until it has taken over completely. This theory was used by U.S administrators during the Cold War to clarify and justify the need for American intervention around the world. The idea had been in existence for quite some time, but it was only clear what it really was when President Dwight D. Eisenhower put it into words in 1954, when referring to communism. In order for Vietnam to be free of a Communist government, the United States decided to ally with France so the Vietminh could not gain more power. Since the Americans were fresh out of fighting the Korean and Chinese Civil War, they believed Communism could be spreading everywhere. Beginning in 1950, the United States initially pledged $15 million dollars in aid of the French. This was the start of an American debt that would damage the U.S economy for almost 30 years. The President of this time, Lyndon B. Johnson, played down the United States role in Vietnam for two reasons. He believed that if Americans felt that this war had to be fought in order to protect their country from Communism, the public would demand a full-scale, no-holds-barred war that could have led to Chinese and RussianShow MoreRelatedThe Vietnam War And The Cold War1494 Words   |  6 Pages When examining the Vietnam War you must first understand the involvement of the events surrounding the Cold War. The ‘Vietnam War’ as it is known is a product of the cold war era, by this I mean that events in the Cold War led to the US’s involvement and creation of issues causing the conflict. â€Å"The Vietnam War was a long, costly armed conflict that pitted the communist regime of North Vietnam and its southern allies, known as the Viet Cong, against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the UnitedRead MoreEssay On Agent Orange1623 Words   |  7 Pagesduring the Vietnam War. Agent Orange was used to eliminate forest cover for the North Vietnam Army, and kill crops to try and starve them. It was very effective in its job and was used for 10 years during the Vietnam War. Agent Orange not oly kills the plants that it was targeting, but it also had a amjor affect on the people that were exposed to it. Agent Orange is a very deadly weapon, and people are still facing the consequences of it today. Agent Orange was used during the Vietnam War. The VietnamRead MoreThe Nature And Consequences Of Vietnam1576 Words   |  7 PagesThe nature and consequences of US involvement in Vietnam until 1968 are categorically characterised by Economic, Social, political and military linkages with the nation on both flanks of the demilitarised zone on the 17th parallel. 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The sixties was an era that was filled with so many important events that caused people to become activelyRead MoreThe Great Migration1269 Words   |  6 Pagestimes of war, many men were removed from the workforce, meaning that the north needed additional workers to fill the now vacated spots. (The Great) The north needed the southern African Americans in order to fill these slots, and without them, the north’s economy would have suffered immensely. These jobs could not have been filled by other groups, such as women or immigrants, as they simply did not have the numbers required to cover the jobs. Additionally, by looking at case studies of the effect of jobRead MoreThe War Of The Vietnam War752 Words   |  4 Pages War is something of a desideratum and an atrocious entity. It sparks contentious discourses, and is often declared following such events. The Vietnam War is notably one war that has enraged many American citizens thereafter. 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Although Agent Orange contained a variety of herbicides, most of the pesticide contained Phenoxyacetic acid – based herbicide 2,4-D and 2,4, 5-T. The most common mixture of the Agent Orange used during the war was a mixture consisted of equal parts of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T; furthermore, between 1962 to 1971 about 19 million gallons of the defoliants were sprayed over 3.6 million acres in Vietnam and Laos. UnfortunatelyRead MoreThe Vietnam War Changed America1139 Words   |  5 Pages The Vietnam War greatly changed America forever. It was the longest war fought in America’s History, lasting from 1955 to 1973. The Vietnam War tarnished America s self image by becoming the first time in history the United States failed to accomplish its stated war aims, to preserve a separate, independent, noncommunist government. The war also had great effects on the American people. It was the first war ever broadcast on television. The public was able to see what happened on the battlefieldRead MoreAgent Ora nge, Ddt, And Benzene809 Words   |  4 Pagesintroduced during the Vietnam war as a defoliant for the thick Vietnamese jungle. Although Agent Orange contained a variety of herbicides, most of the pesticide contained Phenoxyacetic acid – based herbicide 2,4-D and 2,4, 5-T. The most common mixture of the Agent Orange used during the war was a mixture consisted of equal parts of 2,4-D and 2,4-T; furthermore, between 1962 to 1971 about 19 million gallons of the defoliants were sprayed over 3.6 million acres in Vietnam and Laos. Unfortunately