Vietnam War U.S. Research Paper 2022

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VIETNAM WAR
Name of the student
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Date:

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Introduction
The Vietnam Conflict was the long, expensive, as well as disruptive conflict that eroded
the communist authority of North beside South Vietnam along with its major supported that was
the U.S. The war is considered to be the longest-lasting conflict within the U.S history priory the
war in Afghanistan. The event of dispute influenced the lives of different individuals around
America because many citizens were registered within the army1. As recorded by different
arithmetical facts, huge number of soldiers from the U.S. were injured and disturbed, while other
huge number of soldiers lost their lives during such events. The conflict commenced in 1955
while it came to conclusion in 1975. Besides, the chronological period was the time of the Cold
conflict that was portrayed by several tensions amid the U.S. together with the Union of Soviet.
The conflict occurred within Vietnam, and it was expanded to different regions that included
Cambodia as well as Laos2. Therefore, this research paper explores the history, causes,
consequences, military tactics, and resolutions to the Vietnam War.
History Debate of the Vietnam Conflict
It is a war regarded by many as traumatic and controversial events within the past in
America. Up to present day, American is constantly argued concerning the conflict that they had
with Vietnam. For example, presidential election in 2004, Vietnam period of military service of
the candidate turned into the severe issue in campaign. The dispute has been broadly discussed in
various information channels, together with educational sources. The war in Vietnam operates as
the example of how different Head of States balance unrealistic advice that relate to values of the
sort to trouble-solving by the public and realistic debate that highlight the practicality or efficacy
1 Huff, Gregg. 2018. "Causes And Consequences Of The Great Vietnam Famine, 1944-5". The Economic
History Review 72 (1): 286-316. doi:10.1111/ehr.12741.
2 Ed, O’Dowd. 2016. "Deng Xiaoping’S Long War: The Military Conflict Between China And Vietnam,
1979-1991, Written By Xiaoming Zhang". Journal Of Chinese Military History 5 (1): 94-96.
doi:10.1163/22127453-12341298.

3
of affairs of state3. The impractical appeals of President Kennedy F. John offered lawful support
to his strategy in Vietnam that represented him to be the righteous leader. In other terms, the U.S.
Head of State requests assisted him in avoiding criticism of his foreign policy as well as describe
the causes of sluggish development. The involvement of the state within the conflict was
something that several individuals sensed very robustly concerning if they were to be citizens of
American, global people, or citizens of Vietnam4. Vietnam is the war that is known by many to
be the war Americans ever lost. The conflict ended 2 years after the U.S took out their military in
1973, and the collective party detained Saigon two years after the end of the war.
Historiographic Debates on War in Vietnam
Civil War
Most historians and economists believed that the U.S engaged in war in Vietnam because
the region feared the spread of communism. The U.S was unable to defeat the Vietcong, and in
the process, the region was met with enhanced opposition to the war back home. There have
been lasting and temporary reasons to why America became concerned within the conflict. Some
of the reasons include Vietnamese independence and increased cases of civil strife as Vietminh
was ready to unite the nation under leader Minh Chi Ho5. It is recorded by many researchers that
many nationalists were opposed to the leader Minh together with communists. The primary
reason for opposition was that they did not need their nation and its people to be drawn to the
communist collective. Hence, the war became worthy as many individuals in the region remain
to be independent in their operations without relying on ideas from foreigners.
3 Miller, Edward. 2017. "The Postcolonial War". Journal Of Vietnamese Studies 12 (3): 14-22.
doi:10.1525/jvs.2017.12.3.14.
4 Wiest, A. 2016. "Review: American Reckoning: The Vietnam War And Our National Identity By
Christian Appy". Journal Of Vietnamese Studies 11 (1): 132-136. doi:10.1525/jvs.2016.11.1.132.
5 Yurtbay, Baturay. 2018. "Vietnam Syndrome And Its Effects On The Gulf War Strategy". Perspectivas -
Journal Of Political Science, no. 18. doi:10.21814/perspectivas.113.

4
Figure 1 - Showing Ionic Photos of the Vietnam War. Retrieved from Yurtbay (2018)
Vietnamese Independence
Most historians believed that in the lates1950, during the administration of Eisenhower,
Vietnam split into North Vietnam that was communist as well as South Vietnam. Anxiety of
Cold War dictated that if the North Vietnamese communist prevailed, the other region such as
Southeast Asia would fall like dominoes6. When President Kennedy F. John took office in 1961,
he vowed not to allow South Vietnam fall to communism.
The Domino Theory
The theory believed that if an individual state agreed to doctrines of communism, it was
probably that the bordering country would also agree, same to the raw of dominoes agree with
6 Levy, Barry S., and Victor W. Sidel. 2015. "Adverse Health Consequences Of The Vietnam War". Medicine,
Conflict And Survival 31 (3-4): 162-170. doi:10.1080/13623699.2015.1090862.

5
such ideas. Such beliefs had occurred within Eastern part of Europe after 1945. China in their
dealings had also turned out to be communist within 1949 as well as communist were in charge
of North Vietnam7. The U.S was scared that communism might extend to South Vietnam
together with whole of Asia. It made the choice to transmit money, war counselors, together with
supplies to assist government of South Vietnamese.
Causes of the Vietnam Conflict
The conflict in Vietnam is known to be the 2nd Indochina Conflict that lasted from 1954
up to 1973, where the U.S. clashed alongside the South Republic of Vietnam. South Vietnam
was challenging the communist powers consisting of the Viet Con, the association of South
Vietnamese guerillas, alongside the Army of North Vietnamese (Vietnam War). The conflict was
the result of the 1st Indochina conflict that lasted amid 1946 along with 1948, where France
attempted to maintain Vietnam as the dependency8. The attempt of France was encountered with
the firm resistance from the armed service of Vietnamese communists. However, issues that lead
to the Vietnam conflict were passed back to the second global conflict, all through which Japan
tried as well as invaded and conquered Vietnam. The nation had by now been under the
regulation of French from the belatedly 1800s9. The attendance of the Japanese resulted in the
man called Chi Ho Minh, stimulated by the communism of the Union of Soviet and China, to
create the Viet Minh or the union for the sovereignty of Vietnam.
Was Vietnam War worth it or Necessary?
7 Wiest, A. 2016. "Review: American Reckoning: The Vietnam War And Our National Identity By
Christian Appy". Journal Of Vietnamese Studies 11 (1): 132-136. doi:10.1525/jvs.2016.11.1.132.
8 Abuelaish, Izzeldin, and Neil Arya. 2017. "The Palestinian–Israeli Conflict: A Disease For Which Root
Causes Must Be Acknowledged And Treated". Medicine, Conflict And Survival 33 (3): 184-187.
doi:10.1080/13623699.2017.1344378.
9 Nguyen, Lien-Hang T. 2013. "Book Review: Hanoi’S War: An International History Of The War For
Peace In Vietnam Hanoi’S War: An International History Of The War For Peace In Vietnam Chapel Hill :
University Of North Carolina Press , 2012 . 464 Pages. $34.95 (Cloth).". Journal Of Vietnamese Studies 8
(1): 180-182. doi:10.1525/vs.2013.8.1.180.

6
Many researchers, opinion leaders, and political class among other individuals view
Vietnam Conflict to be unnecessary war. Main reason why the war is considered to be
unnecessary is because it was a waste of resources such as time. Other reason includes the idea
that the war in Vietnam fail to involve the America to intervene. Beside, America also had little
or no business in Vietnam, although to get natural resources10. Hence there was no need to fight
America that was just supporting the stand of Southern people of Vietnam in being against the
regulations that were being introduced to them by leaders from the northern side of the region.
Additionally, this war was not worth it as it was very unpopular with Americans and it was not
supported by majority of individuals globally11. The war is considered unnecessary as it posed no
huge danger or threat against the people of America, making it to be unworthy to start in killing
and wounding different persons.
Point of the Vietnam Conflict
North Vietnam was ruled by the administration of communist, and South Vietnam was
not under such government. The head of North Vietnam, Chi Ho Minh, needed to spread
communism within whole Vietnam to connect North alongside South Vietnam. The heads of
South Vietnam was not of the idea of the broadening of communism. Besides, the U.S.
participated by having a side of supporting ideas of South Vietnam, leading to the conflict within
the different level12. Additionally, Vietnam Conflict resulted because of the opposition that was
set in place to prevent the coverage of communism within the country. The other cause was that
as the French militaries withdrew from the conflict due to various reasons, the U.S. was prepared
10 Yurtbay, Baturay. 2018. "Vietnam Syndrome And Its Effects On The Gulf War Strategy". Perspectivas -
Journal Of Political Science, no. 18. doi:10.21814/perspectivas.113.
11 Huff, Gregg. 2018. "Causes And Consequences Of The Great Vietnam Famine, 1944-5". The Economic History
Review 72 (1): 286-316. doi:10.1111/ehr.12741.
12 Yurtbay, Baturay. 2018. "Vietnam Syndrome And Its Effects On The Gulf War Strategy". Perspectivas -
Journal Of Political Science, no. 18. doi:10.21814/perspectivas.113.

7
to take their spot within the military war. The U.S. foreign strategy was also concentrated on
offering assistance to friend nations. The U.S overseas policy was concentrated on offering
assistance to friend nations.
Consequences of the Vietnam War
The Vietnam Conflict has a significant effect on the lifestyle of U.S. citizens. The effects
on the lives of U.S citizens included different aspects of public alongside private lifestyle. The
results of the army war resulted to considerable variations within the foreign strategy of the U.S.
However. Most people consider the U.S. to be globe’s supreme superpower. There are examples
of negative impacts of decisions made by the President of U.S., John F. Kennedy relating to the
resolutions to the war within Vietnam13. The U.S. had got involved in the Vietnam as the
dominant, joint nation sure of its basis together with of conquest in its involvement. The
overpower within the Vietnam Conflict made several Americans reconsiders as well as
reassesses the established values together with beliefs. The war also left Vietnam depressed and
battered due to the doubt within the prospect policy, particularly within the features of the
complicated contests that resulted from the Cold Conflict.
The conflict in Vietnam shaped affairs between politicians and citizens on how they
make different decisions during calamities. The war also changed the state affairs that were
impacted by the performance of media during the army conflict within Vietnam14. The heritage
of the Vietnam Conflict can be accessed through measures of statistical facts that impacted the
communal views concerning the conflict. As recorded by different statistical figures, during the
13 Abuelaish, Izzeldin, and Neil Arya. 2017. "The Palestinian–Israeli Conflict: A Disease For Which Root
Causes Must Be Acknowledged And Treated". Medicine, Conflict And Survival 33 (3): 184-187.
doi:10.1080/13623699.2017.1344378.
14 Gilbert, Marc Jason. 2016. "Review: Forever Vietnam: How A Divisive War Changed American Public
Memory By David Kieran". Journal Of Vietnamese Studies 11 (3-4): 372-377. doi:10.1525/jvs.2016.11.3-
4.372.

8
era of conflict within Vietnam, about 76,000 French nationals were killed, and 65,000 were
wounded in the process. The allies of the French who lost their lives were 19,000, and 13,000
others were injured15. Besides, 58,000 people in American forces lost their lives, and 300,000
were wounded during the fight. The U.S was criticized during the conflict.
Several historians, journalists, together with politicians, indicted the established policy of
government offered very diverse views concerning the significant basis of conflict alongside its
effects. The most famous journalist, along with historians, was Fall Bernard, Lewis John, Robert
Shaplen, and George Kahin. These journalists and historians played a crucial role in providing
harsh disapproval of the efficiency of conflict16. The traffic of Americans against the Vietnam
conflict leads to anti-war opinions and enabled Americans to develop alongside the association
of Americans in this army war. The campaign was vital as it influenced the views of the
administration of Johnson, leading to the reversal of policy within 196817. As recorded by
investigators, during the Nixon management, it accelerated the withdrawal of the America
troops, stayed to restrain the conflict, nourish the weakening economy within the American
parade confidence along with regulation.
Solution to the Vietnam War
The primary solution to the Vietnam conflict is concentrated on the idea that Vietnam
conflict was the most major army conflict of the twentieth century. Even though the conflict
within Vietnam was rather small as it drawn in restricted act of the America, the nine years of
15 Levy, Barry S., and Victor W. Sidel. 2015. "Adverse Health Consequences Of The Vietnam War".
Medicine, Conflict And Survival 31 (3-4): 162-170. doi:10.1080/13623699.2015.1090862.
16 Grossman, Daniel, John Cawley, and Damien de Walque. 2018. "Effect Of Stress On Later-Life Health:
Evidence From The Vietnam War Draft". Southern Economic Journal 85 (1): 142-165.
doi:10.1002/soej.12297.
17 Wiest, A. 2016. "Review: American Reckoning: The Vietnam War And Our National Identity By
Christian Appy". Journal Of Vietnamese Studies 11 (1): 132-136. doi:10.1525/jvs.2016.11.1.132.

9
representative participation of Americans within the battle over two million citizens of Vietnam,
together with 58,219 American citizens died. The relations influenced the primary army
operations throughout the fight amid the military along with the civilians18. Vietnam was main
hub of the plan for the Cold Conflict. Diverse activities conducted by the time of the Vietnam
conflict were linked to the strategy of the restricted battle. Various leaders of civilian society
criticized such an approach. There was boundary put on spread of the war of the army within
Vietnam. Though superior members of the U.S army forces suggested expanding the extent of
the military dispute, U.S Head of State, alongside their administration opposed the development
of liberty of action19. U.S President Kenned F. John, together with President Johnson Lyndon,
utilized the self-ruled resolutions to the conflict.
Military tactics during the Vietnam Conflict
Army leaders once deliberated that military strategies of Germans during the second
global conflict were the most dishonest awaiting the Viet Cong commenced to employ their
strategy. One of the mainly outstanding kinds of fighting during Vietnam conflict was guerilla
rivalry20. Such an approach comprised of cautious, shock assaults targeted to get rid of
opponents. Military tactics used during the war enable the military to slip up on unsuspecting
opponents, execute them, and run away prior leading to alarm. Additionally, fighters of Viet
18 Gal, Reuven. 2016. "Book Review: U.S. Army Psychiatry In The Vietnam War: New Challenges In
Extended Counterinsurgency Warfare". Armed Forces & Society 42 (4): 752-755.
doi:10.1177/0095327x15617451.
19 Miller, Edward. 2017. "The Postcolonial War". Journal Of Vietnamese Studies 12 (3): 14-22.
doi:10.1525/jvs.2017.12.3.14.
20 Painter, Chad, and Patrick Ferrucci. 2019. "‘Ask What You Can Do To The Army’: A Textual Analysis Of
The Underground GI Press During The Vietnam War". Media, War & Conflict 12 (3): 354-367.
doi:10.1177/1750635219836128.

10
Cong often camouflaged themselves as civilians or farmers prior to attacking when they were not
expecting.
Conclusion
While the Vietnam Conflict got different support and measures from some citizens of
America, the general approach towards the conflict were adverse. It was broadly supposed that
veterans were the actual sufferers of the Vietnam Conflict as several citizens of America were
outlined unwillingly to clash in the conflict. From different consequences of the war, Vietnam
conflict is measured to be one of the largely hit with conflicts within the accounts of the U.S. The
substantial variations within the progress of news reporters during the era of the Vietnam conflict
resulted to the altered public awareness of the conflict. Besides, Vietnam conflict has a vital
effect on the lifestyle of the U.S. citizens. The effects on lives of people of America included
deaths and injury among the soldiers
Bibliographies
Abuelaish, Izzeldin, and Neil Arya. 2017. "The Palestinian–Israeli Conflict: A Disease For
Which Root Causes Must Be Acknowledged And Treated". Medicine, Conflict And
Survival 33 (3): 184-187. doi:10.1080/13623699.2017.1344378.
Ed, O’Dowd. 2016. "Deng Xiaoping’S Long War: The Military Conflict Between China And
Vietnam, 1979-1991, Written By Xiaoming Zhang". Journal Of Chinese Military History
5 (1): 94-96. doi:10.1163/22127453-12341298.

11
Gal, Reuven. 2016. "Book Review: U.S. Army Psychiatry In The Vietnam War: New Challenges
In Extended Counterinsurgency Warfare". Armed Forces & Society 42 (4): 752-755.
doi:10.1177/0095327x15617451.
Gilbert, Marc Jason. 2016. "Review: Forever Vietnam: How A Divisive War Changed American
Public Memory By David Kieran". Journal Of Vietnamese Studies 11 (3-4): 372-377.
doi:10.1525/jvs.2016.11.3-4.372.
Grossman, Daniel, John Cawley, and Damien de Walque. 2018. "Effect Of Stress On Later-Life
Health: Evidence From The Vietnam War Draft". Southern Economic Journal 85 (1):
142-165. doi:10.1002/soej.12297.
Huff, Gregg. 2018. "Causes And Consequences Of The Great Vietnam Famine, 1944-5". The
Economic History Review 72 (1): 286-316. doi:10.1111/ehr.12741.
Levy, Barry S., and Victor W. Sidel. 2015. "Adverse Health Consequences Of The Vietnam
War". Medicine, Conflict And Survival 31 (3-4): 162-170.
doi:10.1080/13623699.2015.1090862.
Miller, Edward. 2017. "The Postcolonial War". Journal Of Vietnamese Studies 12 (3): 14-22.
doi:10.1525/jvs.2017.12.3.14.
Nguyen, Lien-Hang T. 2013. "Book Review: Hanoi’S War: An International History Of The
War For Peace In Vietnam Hanoi’S War: An International History Of The War For Peace
In Vietnam Chapel Hill : University Of North Carolina Press , 2012 . 464 Pages. $34.95
(Cloth).". Journal Of Vietnamese Studies 8 (1): 180-182. doi:10.1525/vs.2013.8.1.180.
Painter, Chad, and Patrick Ferrucci. 2019. "‘Ask What You Can Do To The Army’: A Textual
Analysis Of The Underground GI Press During The Vietnam War". Media, War &
Conflict 12 (3): 354-367. doi:10.1177/1750635219836128.

12
Wiest, A. 2016. "Review: American Reckoning: The Vietnam War And Our National Identity
By Christian Appy". Journal Of Vietnamese Studies 11 (1): 132-136.
doi:10.1525/jvs.2016.11.1.132.
Yurtbay, Baturay. 2018. "Vietnam Syndrome And Its Effects On The Gulf War Strategy".
Perspectivas - Journal Of Political Science, no. 18. doi:10.21814/perspectivas.113.