Many Americans opposed the war on moral grounds, appalled by the devastation and violence of the war. Others claimed the conflict was a war against Vietnamese independence, or an intervention in a foreign civil war; others opposed it because they felt it lacked clear objectives and appeared to be unwinnable.
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What was negative about the Vietnam 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.
Was the Vietnam War a bad war?
More than two decades of violent conflict had inflicted a devastating toll on Vietnam’s population: After years of warfare, an estimated 2 million Vietnamese were killed, while 3 million were wounded and another 12 million became refugees.
Why was Vietnam War a mistake?
For many who study foreign affairs, the Vietnam War was a tragic mistake brought about by U.S. leaders who exaggerated the influence of communism and underestimated the power of nationalism.It was a proxy conflict in the Cold War.
How did the Vietnam War affect Vietnam?
The war had a major impact on both South and North Vietnam.The most immediate effect of the Vietnam War was the staggering death toll. The war killed an estimated 2 million Vietnamese civilians, 1.1 million North Vietnamese troops and 200,000 South Vietnamese troops.
Did the US lose the Vietnam War?
The United States forces did not lose, they left.America lost approximately 59,000 dead during the Vietnam War, yet the NVA/VC lost 924,048. America had 313,616 wounded; the NVA/VC had approximately 935,000 wounded. North Vietnam signed a truce on Jan.
What mistakes were made in the Vietnam War?
Starting from #10, here are the top 10 mistakes in the Vietnam War.
- #9: Treating Vietnam like the Korean War.
- #8: Cutting the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
- #7: Using conventional tactics to fight against guerrilla warfare.
- #6: Sanctioning the Coup and assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem.
How did the Vietnam War affect the United States?
The Vietnam War had far-reaching consequences for the United States. It led Congress to replace the military draft with an all-volunteer force and the country to reduce the voting age to 18.The war also weakened U.S. military morale and undermined, for a time, the U.S. commitment to internationalism.
How did the Vietnam War affect soldiers?
The Vietnam conflict impacted veterans in a variety of ways. Most combat soldiers witnessed violence and lost friends to the horrors of war.Some American veterans bore emotional and physical injuries that they would carry for the rest of their lives.
Could the Vietnam War have been avoided?
Share All sharing options for: Vietnam War could have been avoided, McNamara says. Former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, a key architect of the Vietnam War, said Monday that the conflict could have been halted more than a decade before it ended or avoided altogether.
How the Vietnam War really ended?
The peace settlement enabled the United States to withdraw from the war and welcome the American prisoners of war back home.On April 30, 1975, NVA tanks rolled through the gate of the Presidential Palace in Saigon, effectively ending the war.
How did the Vietnam War affect people’s lives?
About 58,000 American soldiers were killed during the Vietnam War, and another 304,000 were wounded. The widespread destruction of the farms and villages in the South Vietnamese countryside turned huge numbers of peasants into homeless refugees.
What were the short term consequences of the Vietnam War?
Short Term Effects
700,000 Vietnam veterans suffer from psychological after-effects. 58,000 Americans were killed and 300,000 were wounded. The war had cost America $200 billion. President Johnson was unwilling to raise taxes and this resulted in a cycle of inflation.
What were the causes and effects of the Vietnam War?
CAUSE: The US believed in the “domino effect”. If one country was communist, then they were all going to become communistic. EFFECT: Congress passed a resolution to give the President power to declare war. They start bombing entire cities full of innocent people.
Is Vietnam still communist?
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a one-party state. A new state constitution was approved in April 1992, replacing the 1975 version. The central role of the Communist Party was reasserted in all organs of government, politics and society.
What people think about the Vietnam War?
Only a small percentage of Americans believed their government was evil or sympathized with the Viet Cong. But many began to feel it was time to cut losses. Even the iconic CBS newscaster Walter Cronkite questioned aloud the efficacy of pursuing the war.
How did the Vietnam War affect our economy?
Effects. U.S. gross domestic product by year reveals that the war boosted the economy out of a recession caused by the end of the Korean War in 1953. Spending on the Vietnam War played a small part in causing the Great Inflation that began in 1965.
How was Vietnam traumatizing?
In fact, the VA has found 17 percent – or 510,000 – of the three million American service members who served in Vietnam went on to suffer from PTSD. Divorce, suicide, substance abuse and criminal conduct often became collateral damage.
Why did the Vietnam War cause so much PTSD?
Looking back, Roy thinks soldiers from the Vietnam era were particularly susceptible to PTSD because of feelings of isolation. “In earlier wars,” he says, “a group of men trained as a unit, were sent to fight as a unit, and returned home as a unit. That meant you had an instant support system.
Who controlled Vietnam before the French?
Before the French came to Indochina, Vietnam, the Khmer Empire (Cambodia), and the Laotian Kingdom (Laos) were independent countries. Vietnam had been ruled by neighboring China for hundreds of years, but after centuries of resistance the Vietnamese people overthrew their Chinese rulers and became independent.
Could America’s entry into the war have been avoided?
The U.S. could easily have avoided the war, if it chose to.When the war began in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson immediately declared U.S. neutrality. In 1916, he won another term with the slogan “He Kept Us Out of War.” Five months later, he declared war on Germany; Congress approved with 56 “No” votes.
