Vietnam war and its impact on American society

Vietnam war and its impact on American society

The wars in which the United States had previously been involved, especially World War II, had been winner-take-all wars in which few considerations other than ultimate victory or defeat affected U.S. military policy. The Vietnam War was fundamentally different for the United States, as it was essentially a proxy theatre of the larger Cold War with the USSR. Vietnam was asymmetrical: whereas North Vietnam’s objectives were simple and straightforward, the United States was burdened by a whole host of other issues in its dealings. Ultimately, Vietnam was an entirely new kind of war for the United States, one that still remains morally and historically problematic. Though far smaller and more geographically confined than the great world wars earlier in the century, Vietnam completely changed the way the United States approached military action and helped define the role of the United States within the new world order.




This war is known as  the greatest failure of all times in American history. The USA entered this conflict as the world’s superpower, but left Vietnam humiliated and defeated. It’s the only war the USA ever lost. More than 3 million people, including 58,000 Americans, were killed in this conflict.





               Vietnam War had a tremendous impact on American society and culture, in large part because it was the first American war to be televised. As a result, the American press played a significant, unforeseen role in the war, especially in the area of public opinion.








 The photographs, videos, and opinions of American journalists, coupled with the simple fact that young Americans were dying on foreign soil against an enemy that did not threaten the United States directly, turned much of the American public against the war. This enormous power of the media and public distrust of the government have been a mainstay of American society ever since.





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