Lyndon B. Johnson and U.s.

The Vietnam conflict was a very large mess with many events that occurred that would forever change how people act and view things. It consisted of war, secrets, popularity politics, generation revolution, civil rights, and a lot of experimentation. All of this changed the society of America and the view of the people towards the U.S. government. Other countries views changed towards the U.S. as well, but the entire word was changing. The credibility gap between the people of the United States and the United States government really hurt the trust of the people. They would be told that the war was going well and North Vietnam was weakening. When actually none of that was true, the U.S. government would lie to the people about what was going on in Vietnam. For example Richard Nixon, one of the presidents during Vietnam told the public that he was pulling out 25000 troops and by the end of the year another 65000 would be home. He actually deployed more troops into Vietnam after making that statement. There was also the Tet Offensive, the U.S. Gov. told the public that the Vietcong were weak and did not have the strength to launch an offensive; while this speech was being made the Vietcong launched the biggest assault of the war. The people couldn’t believe the fact that they were being lied to by their own government. They started to question things, and the distrust began. Still to this day people do not trust the government for these very reasons, the people that were alive during the Vietnam War especially have problems with trusting the government. Many people didn’t believe that the U.S.’s reason for being there wasn’t justified; they thought lives were being wasted for no reason. The Vietnam era created a lot of doubt and distrust in the government from the people, trust is one thing that is needed to run a country of democracy. The U.S. eventually signed a peace treaty with North Vietnam for a cease fire. The United States pulled completely out of Vietnam, abandoning South Vietnam. The capitol of South Vietnam, Saigon, was overrun and captured. The Vietcong had defeated the South Vietnamese and now controlled all of Vietnam. With this defeat communism gained another country to add to its power against capitalism and the United States. This is a long term effect that will last forever unless Vietnam is liberated. The American soldiers that came home from the war were not treated well. They didn’t get the treatment the WW vets did, no parades, no warm welcome, nothing. They had people spit in their faces and were called killers for serving their country. The soldiers wondered why they even fought; they felt like they worked so hard for nothing. The soldiers deserved respect and didn’t get it for the longest time. People avoided the military service for a long time after Vietnam. Today soldiers are no longer looked down upon, they are honored. The media is what kept the people constantly rioting. The media is the only reason the people of the U.S. knew what was going on. Graphic photos would be on television or in the newspaper. Battle scenes were on the news with body parts on the ground along with dead soldiers. The media has changed over time with the change in technology; it informs the world on every major event that happens. The media still today keeps the U.S. citizens informed on wars and other happenings around the world. The media changed the people’s view of America and the American government. It actually hurt the American image, other countries around the world also had changes in their views of the U.S. the media forever changed the way war is viewed. The Vietnam War had many cost. Not only the billions of dollars spent, but also the thousands of American lives taken, and the effects it had on American society. The war cost Lyndon Johnson his presidency. Many programs promised to the American people were never fulfilled because of the demands from the war. The President’s power in waging war was limited. The war also permanently changed the way the media functions. It changed the public view of the government and its leaders permanently. Serious questions were raised about the U.S. getting involved militarily in many future situations, and the U.S. stayed out of other countries affairs for many years. The war in all damaged America’s image and taught the U.S. about its limits of power. The war did have its positive effects. Communist pressure was kept out of Indonesia and other areas in the pacific. This enabled them to remain non-communist since most of the communists’ focus was on Southeast Asia. The Vietnam War is one that will never be forgotten, and its effects on America have changed the way Americans will look at all future conflicts.