Running Head: THE VIETNAM WAR



Running Head: THE VIETNAM WAR

The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War is still considered the most controversial war in US history. There were many different people who were opposed to the war, and for many different reasons. Students were especially opposed to the war as many of them were being pulled from school, or not allowed to go to school because of being drafted right out of high school. They felt they were unable to make the choice of getting an education or fighting a war they did not believe in. These feelings caused the connection between student unrest across the United States and the Vietnam War.

Students who were allowed to attend school could do so only if they kept a 2.0 average and were maintaining a set number of credit hours per semester. If the students fell below the 2.0 average or did not carry the required number of credit hours, the deferred draft status would be revoked (, 2009). Another reason student unrest was linked to the Vietnam War is that when students did finish school; the draft would often take them right out of school and into the war. This felt like a no win situation for the students, which found many of them protesting the war openly, often getting many arrested or sent off to war even quicker.

When the war ended, many Americans were thrilled. Those that were still living returned home, but not to fanfare and a heroes welcome. Too many felt we were not supposed to be there, and the fact there was no designated winner, meant the celebration was not going to happen. The social outcome of the Vietnam War was connected to the number of veterans returning home, many to no homes, no jobs and no families. Socially, these men were becoming outcasts and many found themselves living in the street, without any help from the country and the government they had served (F. Hill, personal interview, 2009).

Politically, the country had suffered a great financial strain. The war costs $120 billion dollars on the war (, 2009). This was financed through the President having to cut out key programs that helped other people within the United States and increasing taxes. The loss of the programs and increased taxes caused even more social issues because there was less assistance to those who needed and more people who couldn’t afford to live because of the increase in taxes.

Another political outcome was of a more global nature. All along, the US was considered one of the great superpowers and was under the belief that it could win at any engagement that it was involved in. However, the Vietnam War greatly changed this outlook. This showed the US and other world powers that no matter how much money you have, how much fire power there is, and how much backing you have, there is still not enough to beat everyone (, 2009). In the case of the Vietnam War, the smaller country had more desire, more will to win or at least come out ahead, and they did. They were able to do this because they wanted it more, knew more about us than we did about them.

The Vietnam War was one that many today feel was a war we should not have fought. However, it did teach us something, a very valuable lesson. It taught us that even though we are a superpower, we can still be knocked down. The one thing that many of us have learned through listening to stories from our grandparents is that the US failed, but not just in the war. The US failed in ensuring that it took care of its own when they returned home. The men and women that fought in the Vietnam War did so out of duty and respect and honor. They did not do it because they had nothing better to do, but because they were directed to follow orders, and they did. How did the US treat them when they returned? Many treated them like they had a disease, wanting nothing to do with them; not wanting to help them, and that is what hurt them the most. To this day, many Vietnam Veterans suffer from illnesses, post-traumatic stress disorder, homelessness, and alcoholism and drug abuse. This war was not their war, but one they fought when following orders. The social outcome that is probably the worst social outcome ever was to ignore them, and wish them away. This showed that not only did the US fail politically for not taking care of its veterans, but socially as well for treating them like outcasts.

References

(2009). Describe the connection between student unrest and the

Vietnam War noting how each affected the other? Retrieved on March 29, 2009 from

(2009). What were the political and social outcomes at the end of the

war in Vietnam? Retrieved on March 29, 2009 from

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