The Vietnam War

The Cold War started in 1947 and lasted until 1991. The United States and the Soviet Union were involved. Korea and China were already Communists, and with Vietnam also a Communist country. Communists would rule more than one-quarter of the globe, from East Germany across to the coasts of Japan, the Philippines and Australia. The United States government then promoted the Domino Theory. The government speculated that if one state in a region came under the influence of Communism, then the surrounding countries would follow in a domino effect. The United States administrations used the domino theory during the Cold War to encourage the need for American Intervention around the world. The Domino Theory was particularly relevant to Asia, with its poorly controlled borders, weak governments and low capacity for resisting communist infiltration. So the United States goal during the Cold War was not to let Communism spread throughout Europe, and Asia. In an effort to do so, the United States then went to war with North Vietnam, because they were trying to spread Communism to South Vietnam. The United States became involved in the Vietnam War because they were afraid Communism would spread over Southeast Asia.

After the Vietnam War there were long lasting impacts, which affected America, and Vietnam itself. One of the long lasting impacts of Vietnam was South Vietnam became communist. On April 30, 1975 South Vietnam's Capital Saigon fell (Prevatt). After the fall of Saigon, North Vietnam lead South Vietnam into the Communist way. The War left the United States Military Demoralized. The war left the U.S. military demoralized and materially crippled (Bradford). Vietnam Veterans were stereotyped in a negative way. Some people would say Vietnam Veterans were psychologically devastated, bitter, homeless, drug-addicted people. (Napier). The Vietnam War changed many people's views on communism. Now many people are against the form of government ("Vietnam War"). The Vietnam War had a profound effect on American society. It changed the way we viewed our government, the media, and our constitutional rights. The changes in the behavior of our society left a lasting mark on our perception and the demand to be informed, since that influential period of social turmoil ("What Effects did the Vietnam War have on American Society".) The end of the Vietnam War led to a drop of patriotism and respect for our country. A lot of Veterans that have Cancer can probably associate it with Agent Orange (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs). Agent Orange was a chemical used during the Vietnam War. The purpose of the product was to not give an enemy cover and concealment in dense terrain by defoliating trees and shrubbery where the enemy could hide. The product was tested in Vietnam in the early 1960's, and brought into ever widening use during the height of the war (1967-68), though its use was diminished and eventually discontinued in