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Jonathan M.

Sarah Records

English III

2 May 1017

The War at Home

In 1965, the United States deployed troops to Vietnam to combat communist influence.

The conflict later escalated for more war effort by proposing the draft in 1969, which created

controversy amongst society in the United States, starting protests, social issues and even

violence. This led the war in Vietnam which impacted the society of the United States in mostly

negative ways.

Before going into further detail, the U.S. first began their involvement in Vietnam as air

support for the South Vietnamese government, conducting bombings against the Vietcong. The

U.S. viewed their involvement in the war as a way of combating communist influence in

Southeast Asia. U.S. involvement officially escalated in 1965, where a U.S. naval vessel was

pursued by NVA submarines at the Gulf of Tonkin. This event triggered the United States to

strengthen the war effort by sending in more forces to Vietnam.

Across college campuses, groups of students had formed protests groups, such as the

Chicago Seven and the Youth International Group. Some of these student protest groups had

extremist views, these groups believed that the war was sending young men to their deaths,

however this belief was on a more extreme level. (History.com staff) some of these groups

would perform street theatre and politically themed pranks, which led them to not be taken

seriously

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by the government and even society whom they are trying to influence. There was also those

who supported the war wanted more involvement in Vietnam than what is already occurring,

such as more air strikes and military action, these people in particular believed that more

military strength would help win the war and rid the country of communist influence. (Mark

Murrmann) Various polls on public opinion were conducted, which showed most people who

were in support of the war tended to be of an age older than 30 and were more educated.(Mark

Murrmann)

President Richard M. Nixon was also a contributor to the views of the war, Nixon had a

very patriotic, and aggressive view on foreign affairs and government, he believed in a policy

called Peace with Honor. (History.com staff). He went on to give a famous speech over the

support and opposition to the war. In his speech he had stated that anti war supporters

represented a small-albeit-vocal-minority that should not be allowed to drown out the silent

majority. Because of his views, Nixon favored those who were in support of the war, and didnt

take much consideration into those who were against it. (History.com staff) These views had a

great impact on society which created more tension between opposers and supporters, creating

more violent protests. (History.com staff) An example of these violent demonstrations occurred

at Kent State University, where National Guard troops fired upon a group of student protesters,

killing four students and wounding 16 others.

Most veterans claimed to oppose the war, claiming it was a waste of men and resources.

(History.com staff) Veterans of past wars and even soldiers who served some time in Vietnam

and were removed due to injuries or other reasons opposed the war and believed it was a waste

time, money, resources and men. Men who had served in the war had gone on to say, We

know,

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because we have been there, that the American public has not been told the truth about the war

or about Viet-Nam We believe that true support for our buddies still in Viet-Nam is to demand

that they be brought home (through whatever negotiation is necessary) before anyone else dies

in a war the American people did not vote for and do not want. (History.com staff)

The continuation of the war effort in Vietnam created mostly negative effects back at

home. Making it possibly the most controversial war to occur with the United States of America.

If people were to support the war effort, they would realize that they would also be sending in

young men to fight a war they dont want to. And those opposing might have been against a

fight they could have won.

Works Cited

.
History.com Staff. "Vietnam War Protests." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010.

"Vietnam War Protests." The Vietnam War. N.p., n.d.

"The Anti-War Movement in the United States." The Anti-War Movement in the United States. N.p.,
n.d.

Markmurrmann. ""Why Lose When You Can Win?" Scenes from a Pro-Vietnam War Rally 45 Years
Ago." Mother Jones. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2017.