The Vietnam War caused much controversy in the United States, because Americans saw the war over television and revolted that of the countries efforts . In February 1965, Pres. Johnson commenced the air war, ordering continual bombing of North Vietnam. He also sent the first ground troops to South Vietnam (PBS). America assisted the South, because they wanted to contain communism. They also wanted to protect the free South from the communist North, which allowed them to assist South Vietnam in air wars and ground wars against North Vietnam. During the gruesome war in Vietnam, America was also in a stalemate with Russia . The Cold war lasted for many decades and in the 1960s brought fear of it against Russia. “American officials encouraged the development of atomic weapons like the ones that had ended World War II. Thus began a deadly ‘arms race’” (Staff). They wanted development of atomic weapons so that they were prepared for Russia. This would eventually help end the Cold War when both America and Russia made a deal to give up some atomic weapons. Today both the Vietnam and Cold war efforts have impacted America. Vietnam has helped lessen the cause for which it was fought, fighting communism. Moreover, the Cold war allowed America to act more in social affairs. The Cold War affected America long term by pushing the country to create more nuclear weapons. The…