The Effects of the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War drastically changed the course of Vietnam and
American History. Both of these countries’ domestic politics, policies
on foreign affairs and social and cultural history were significantly
changed by this event.
The Vietnam War was originally a military effort of the United States to
stop Communist aggression in Southeast Asia that then was starting in
Vietnam. On January 23, 1973, the government of the
 United States and
the North Vietnamese agreed to cease-fire. After this cease-fire
agreement, the United States only offered financial assistance to the
South Vietnamese. It was the actually the first time that the United
States lost a war as a whole country. Americans felt that the other
nations should determine their own destinies by protecting their own
countries and that US should take a less active role in foreign policy,
especially wars. Therefore, they backed the colonial expansion of the
French government after the war for fear of Ho Chi Minh and his
communist group taking over.
In 1966, President Johnson made a public statement regarding the Vietnam
War and he lied about actions that were done in Vietnam. He dared to
wash hands in front of the American public while clear proof of damages
that were caused by US intervention in the war continued to flourish and
worsened the condition of the Vietnamese. Because of all these, he lost
favor with the American public and decided not to seek reelection in the
1968 elections. Before his injustices, Americans had trust in their
government and their leaders. After the exposure of all these damages in
the media, Americans lost all their trust together with their innocence.
The media became more of a watchdog in domestic politics and continued
to open the eyes of Americans.
When the soldiers who fought in Vietnam went back to US after the war,
they received a cold welcome. This is the exact opposite of what one
might expect knowing that they pledged to do well for their country and
protect what is good. Americans hated what happened during the war,
especially the results of the war. This was the main reason why many war
veterans felt alienated. They suffered posttraumatic stress disorder or
PTSD. The emotional disorder that they got from the war was very
difficult for them to cope up because of the response of the people in
their environment. They were indirectly being blamed for the effects of
the war to Vietnam. Moreover, many of them were also exposed to the
Agent Orange herbicide and this actually affected their kids.
Drastically indeed, the Vietnam War changed the course of American
history.
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