Public Sentiment Regarding the Vietnam War - 1111 Words

Many of the democrats within the legislative branch turned against Johnson’s war. Scholar’s conflict on the reason why Johnson’s own party turned against him, some scholars attribute it to the growing number of antiwar constituents, while other scholars such as E.M. Schreiber, Burstein and Freudenburg cite the numerous deaths of American soldiers in combat. One democrat by the name of Eugene McCarthy labeled the entire Vietnam War as an â€Å"error† and describes the Johnson administration as â€Å"misguided.† McCarthy decides to run for President, but loses in the primaries by a slim margin to Johnson, further indicating that the antiwar movement was gaining significant momentum. Things were only beginning to get even worse as the Tet Offensive†¦show more content†¦In response to the tragedy and the Cambodia invasion, mass rallies were held in almost every major city in that month. The elite demographic, which includes doctors, lawyers and other professionals also flooded into Washington to display their opposition not only to the war but the increasing domestic violence. The incident dramatically affected Americans and it was further indicated through public opinion polls, which pointed blame towards the National Guard. To many Americans, the domestic upheaval following Cambodia and Kent State suggested that the country was becoming unhinged according to Melvin Small. Newspapers such as the New York Times suggested that the United States was as divided as it had been since the Civil War. Individuals that would identify themselves as pro-war now felt that the war’s cost in terms of domestic consequence outweighed the benefits of continuing the war. The White House was now in full damage control following the Kent State shootings. Public opinion polls showed a 31 percent approval for the war following the Kent State massacre. In response, White House officials anxiously discussed how to contain the uproar . According to David Anderson and John Ernst in their book titled, â€Å"The War That Never Ends: Student Opposition to the Vietnam War,† White House officials agreed that it was important to avoid steps that would furtherShow MoreRelatedThe Vietnam War Era Of American History1700 Words   |  7 Pages Stanley Karnow describes the Vietnam War era of American history as â€Å"†¦a tragedy of epic dimensions†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 1 and it is fair to postulate that this is no understatement. One of the more pertinent ramifications of the Vietnam War was the deconstruction of fundamental, if somewhat illusory, American conceptions and ideals. The war shattered America’s hitherto unshakeable â€Å"confidence†2 in its political hegemony, military prowess and assumed authority in world order, i.e. â€Å"†¦its moral exclusivity, its militaryRead MoreHarry S. Trumans Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb1857 Words   |  7 PagesNagasaki in order to end World War II and t he U.S. would soon meet another formidable enemy with the beginnings of The Cold War. The Cold War developed anti- and pro-Communist views, shifting the United States’ focus towards defeating Communism and its supporters. The tensions from the Cold War developed into great animosity spurring from the clashing beliefs of Democracy and Communism. 20 years later, U.S. intervention combats Communism’s spread in The Vietnam War. Although the U.S. thought it wasRead MoreMedia Coverage Of The Vietnam War1257 Words   |  6 Pagesin the traditional sense. They fight with audio and video, instead. (Rewrite Hook) This was live coverage of the Vietnam War, a long, bloody, unforgotten, and unappreciated war. Once these horrifying images were cast onto American screens, United States would find itself covered in ruins. Ruins that would cost years and years to rebuild. (Fix Transition) Media coverage of the Vietnam War ignited a new era of journalism and served as a driving force i n the public’s perception of United States involvementRead MoreAmerican Society And The Ending Of The Vietnam War1415 Words   |  6 Pagessociety regarding opinions on foreign policy or military action as a means to gain greater social and political acceptance . The rise of the anti-war movement largely marked the end of the idea that patriotism was the â€Å"passport to equality† and acceptance. This is deeply explored by Jefferys-Jones in his 2001 book Peace now! American society and the ending of the Vietnam War. He looks at three groups- students, African Americans, and women- as groups that came into their own in the anti-war movementRead MoreThe Containment Policy Was Aimed At Ending The Spread Of Communism1595 Words   |  7 Pagesafter the Soviet Union made several attempts to stretch to Africa, China, Korea, Vietnam and Eastern Europe. How the restriction made it impossible for nations to be seen as distinct, with varying histories, cultures and predicamen ts. Vietnam being a highly varied nation with an extensive past on the elongated journey for their independence, losing their identity was not a very welcome idea to them. The history of Vietnam also comes into play when making these considerations and even their politicalRead MoreImpact Of Media Coverage During The Vietnam War2252 Words   |  10 Pagesimportant events of wars are typically published in newspapers across the globe, featured on nightly news, and talked about extensively. In fact, it is hard for the average person in Western societies to not be informed about the happenings of particular events due to the fact that this information is so widespread. However, warfare coverage has not always been at the forefront of media. It was not until the Vietnam War that wartime happenings emerged as readily available public information, so availableRead MoreWhat Led The United States Into The Vietnam War?1449 Words   |  6 PagesReilly Fletcher HUS History Mr. Hlavacek 5/30/16 What Led the United States to Enter the Vietnam War? The United States played a very crucial role in the conflict that occurred in Southeast Asia between the U.S.-backed democratic South Vietnam, and Soviet-backed communist North Vietnam. Following the defeat of its French administration in 1954, North Vietnam, led by Communist leader Ho Chi Minh, wanted to reunify the country with the help of its rebel allies in the south, known as the Viet CongRead MoreMusic And Its Impact On Society1340 Words   |  6 PagesThere are two pillars of society that have and always will be prevalent in civilizations. The first pillar being competition of power; society will always have individuals in charge of the decisions regarding the administration of their civilization. Secondly, being the self-expression of the human condition through music. Both concepts widely disparate, although both vital to the constitution of one’s identity and development of their life choices. A person’s life will always be altered due to interactionsRead Mo reJohn Miller s Death Of A Salesman Essay1521 Words   |  7 PagesRiseman’s analysis presents the other side of life in the Consumer Republic. At a societal level, the GDP was shooting up at record speed, massive public projects like the highway system improved American infrastructure, and American influence all around the world was rising. Yet to the individual citizen or family, the realities of an increasingly materialistic society brought new questions that often had disillusioning answers. Works such as the film â€Å"Rebel Without a Cause† and Arthur Miller’sRead MoreThe Sixties And Sixties Were Among The Most Important Decades Essay2309 Words   |  10 Pagestwo vastly different wars at the time that created a massive feeling of unrest inside its own walls, especially among groups of young people who worked in massive numbers to bring about heavy societal change in many different areas aiming for the top and moving down. These decades included some of the most hotly debated and controversial events in American history. The United states faced a state of massive uneasiness internally with the nervousness brought about by the Cold War. There was also a state