The Vietnam War and the Protest Against It Essay - 3560 Words

Secretary of State John Kerry once said â€Å"I saw courage both in the Vietnam War and in the struggle to stop it. I learned that patriotism includes protest, not just military service.† The Vietnam War was a conflict that lasted from 1956-1975 which the United States participated in along with the South Vietnamese who fought against the Communist North Vietnamese. Many Americans strongly disapproved of the war which caused many protests and riots. The war lasted 25 years killing many people and eventually the North Vietnamese won. The Vietnam War was important to Americans back home because it tested the citizen’s right to free speech, effected future foreign policy, and created many issues for returning veterans. Every colony had†¦show more content†¦When World War II was resolved with the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Vietnamese thought that they would finally be free, but were disappointed when the French returned to power following their liberation from German control (Pendergast 14). Following the French return, the Communist regime of Vietnamese people had decided it was time for a rebellion and started waging war versus the French (Pendergast 14). With Vietnam’s neighbors to the north, China, following Russia’s principles and becoming a Communist nation, the Vietnamese Communist Regime, also known as the Viet Minh, gained strategic military support (Pendergast 15). The fighting between the Viet Minh and the French continued for many years and in the spring of 1954 the Viet Minh won a very decisive battle known as the Battle of Dien Bien Phu (Pendergast 17). This battle proved to bring the fighting between the French and Viet Minh to a close because in the summer of 1954 there was a conference held in Geneva, Switzerland to bring the fighting to a close (Pendergast 19). The results of this conference were the Geneva Accords which called for a temporary ceasefire, and a split of the country into a communist sector in the north and republic in the so uth along the 17th parallel (Pendergast 20). The plan however was not well liked andShow MoreRelatedProtests Against the Vietnam War996 Words   |  4 Pagesthe country. The Vietnam war was in full force, and students across the country were in an outrage. Society needed an excuse to rebel against the boring and safe way of life they were used to; Vietnam gave them the excuse they needed. Teenagers from different universities came together and formed various organizations that protested the Vietnam war for many reasons. These reasons included protesting weapons and different tactics used in the war, and the reason the U.S. entered the war in the first placeRead MoreThe Moratorium March 752 Words   |  4 PagesNovember 15, 1969, the Moratorium March against the Vietnam War commenced in Washington D.C. Pacifists and peace administrators carried banners which stated, †A Calvinist for peace, No more war, We want peace now,† and some carried placards bearing the name of so ldiers that had died during the war (Leen). The placards that had names of fallen soldiers were first used on November 13, 1969 during the protest called â€Å"March against Death.† Two days after this protest, the â€Å"Moratorium March† began. ThisRead MoreVietnam War Protests1552 Words   |  6 Pages Vietnam War Protests Introduction How the Americans Got Involved During the Cold War, American political leadership was determined to slow the spread of communism wherever it could be slowed. 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Many incidents triggered the Anti-War movement and the Hippie counter culture such as the growing United States involvement in Southern Vietnam, the gruesome images that the evening news showed uncensored, the draft that caused many thousands of men to lose their lives and their minds as the end result of the war. This war triggered a great sense of whatRead MoreEssay on Johnsons War: The Domino Effect1031 Words   |  5 PagesSpecial Forces in South Vietnam but President Johnson made the decision to engage in full warfare in the region. Because Johnson decided to engage in full warfare, it is fair and truthful to dub the Vietnam conflict, â€Å"Johnson’s War.† After President Johnson finished JFK’s term, he was in a bit of a â€Å"pickle.† Johnson wanted to stay the course in Vietnam but he feared that a military setback in the region would tarnish his image for the upcoming election. Johnson campaigned against Arizona Senator Barry