VietnamWarProject
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Dec 6, 2023
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Running head: THE VIETNAM WAR PROJECT
Vietnam War Project
Vietnam War: A Brief History
The views of the Vietnamese people on Ngo Dinh Diem and subsequent South
Vietnamese leaders differed. Diem initially had some supporters who agreed with his anti-
communist views, but his dictatorial control, nepotism, and favoring of Catholics drove off a lot
of Vietnamese people. Among Buddhist communities, this sparked opposition and turmoil. The
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Running head: THE VIETNAM WAR PROJECT
South Vietnamese administration was seen as corrupt and authoritarian, lacking popular
representation, and subsequent presidents like Nguyen Van Thieu experienced similar
difficulties. The communist troops in North Vietnam gained support because of this impression.
Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon all had different approaches to the conflict in their foreign
agendas. Kennedy attempted to control communism by increasing military advisors while
delaying the deployment of significant numbers of ground troops. Johnson dramatically
increased American engagement, which caused public opinion to change because of rising losses
and the sense that the war was unwinnable. According to the "The Vietnam War and its Impact -
Nixon’s peace with honor" from the Encyclopedia of the New American Nation, the Nixon
administration implemented a strategy known as "Vietnamization" or "de-Americanization" of
the conflict. This strategy aimed to strengthen the South Vietnamese military forces, empowering
them to assume greater combat responsibilities, while gradually withdrawing American combat
troops people and the American public's perceptions were significantly impacted by the Vietnam
War. The South Vietnamese government's influence on the Vietnamese people's viewpoint led to
opposition and dissatisfaction. The perception of the American public, in contrast, was shaped by
official narratives and media representations that backed South Vietnamese officials. Different
approaches taken by Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon resulted in support, anti-war sentiment, and
protests, which helped sway public opinion.
Due of its inaccurate and inadequate facts, the video appears to be biased. It falls short of
appropriately addressing the high death toll from the war, which includes both civilian and
military casualties as well as a great deal of suffering and displaced people. Some contend that
the conflict's human toll, in addition to environmental harm and the adoption of questionable
strategies, presents legitimate moral and humanitarian issues. A major argument is also made that
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Running head: THE VIETNAM WAR PROJECT
the U.S. participation in Vietnam did not fully respect and acknowledge the agency of the
Vietnamese people in choosing their own political fate. When analyzing the details of the
Vietnam War, missing this aspect is an important factor that needs to be mentioned. The film
illustrates the Vietnam War's tremendous and extensive effects on both Vietnam and the United
States. It highlights the great human suffering, widespread devastation, and political and societal
turmoil brought on by the fight. The documentary also emphasizes how the war profoundly split
American culture and had a long-lasting effect on American foreign policy, military tactics, and
public opinion.
The Vietnam War Explained In 25 Minutes | Vietnam War Documentary
One topic that strikes out to me is the United States' employment of military techniques
such as Agent Orange. During the Vietnam War, the US military employed Agent Orange as a
herbicide to clear vegetation and damage crops. Agent Orange spraying caused massive
contamination of land, streams, and forests in Vietnam. More than 13 million gallons of Agent
Orange were sprayed in Vietnam, accounting for over two-thirds of all herbicides used
throughout the Vietnam War (Sullivan, 2019). Agent Orange exposure has been linked to a
variety of health problems in both the Vietnamese and American populations. Cancer, birth
deformities, neurological impairments, and chronic diseases are among the consequences. Agent
Orange's long-term effects have harmed numerous generations and continue to pose hurdles to
Vietnam's public health and environmental rehabilitation efforts. It is debatable if Agent Orange
was successful in achieving its military goals during the Vietnam War. Although it was
successful in destroying crops and defoliating huge tracts of land, its overall usefulness in
achieving strategic objectives is controversial.
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Running head: THE VIETNAM WAR PROJECT
In my perspective, the United States made the correct decision to become involved. As
part of its Cold War containment policy against the Soviet Union and its allies, the US made a
commitment to help South Vietnam. The containment policy, formulated by U.S. diplomat
George F. Kennan, aimed to prevent the expansion of communism by containing its influence
within its existing borders. Kennan argued that the main element of any United States policy
toward the Soviet Union must be that of a long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of
Russian expansive tendencies (Tyler, 2023). The United States believed that if one country fell to
communism, it would have a domino effect, leading to the spread of communism to neighboring
countries. The belief was that by assisting South Vietnam, the US was fulfilling its duties and
demonstrating its commitment to its friends, strengthening the credibility of its defense
agreements, and preventing further aggression.
References
Sullivan, M. (2019, May 16). Agent orange. History.com.
https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/agent-orange-1
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Running head: THE VIETNAM WAR PROJECT
The Vietnam War and its Impact - Nixon’s peace with honor
. Encyclopedia of the New American
Nation. (n.d.). https://www.americanforeignrelations.com/O-W/The-Vietnam-War-and-
Its-Impact-Nixon-s-peace-with-honor.
Tyler, R. (2023, March 16).
Containment and the Truman Doctrine: Documents and debates
.
Teaching American History. https://teachingamericanhistory.org/blog/containment-and-
the-truman-doctrine-documents-and-debates/