Why was Vietnam war controversial?

Answer 1

The involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War was a reaction to the expansion of proxy communist countries and groups sponsored by the Soviet Union. During the Cold War the United States and its allies fought worldwide, small scale conflicts with the Soviet Union and its allies. After the French government withdrew from Vietnam, the United States became involved to prevent a "domino effect" of communist takeovers of the countries in Southeast Asia. Given that there was no plan to defeat the communists but to only contain them, this lead to military and political decisions which could not affect a winning result. As the length and cost of the Vietnam War grew, this caused political and social pressure to build within the United States. This pressure was directed in two ways: either to win the war or end the war. Given the lack of political will to win the war, President Richard Nixon forced the North Vietnamese government to accept a peace agreement which allowed the United States to withdraw from the conflict. Given that the political and military goals were not achieved by the United States, this caused a loss of confidence in the ability of the country to successfully prosecute a war and the ability of the political classes to support the effort. Socially, the Vietnam War was also highly divisive to the american people. Today, the social effects can still be seen in the debate surrounding the war in Iraq.

Answer 2

The basic ingredients for making Vietnam a "bad" war, was: The Atomic bomb & the Draft. The Nuclear Weapon created the "limited war". This second limited war was not partly surrounded by the sea as Korea had been, thus easily isolated from communist re-supply. Vietnam could not be isolated from re-supply, which in turn caused a time consuming war of "trying to empty a river with a steam shovel." (A river will keep flowing unless you DAM IT UP!). This situation caused: An escalation of the draft.

Answer 3

Had it not been for the US Military draft to fight the war; Vietnam would not have been as controversial as it was. It would simply have been a small foreign war in Asia, part of the ongoing cold war against communism.

Answer 4

The My Lai Massacre, it was one of the most awful things we ever did in war. The U.S was not justified during this case. Lt. William Calley decided for his troops to open fire on a bunch of innocent children and kids. Congress did not give permission to even engage with them. However, Calley denied it. Tons of innocent mothers and children were killed when they opened fire. It was even reported that one little girl was raped and killed. This action that was led by Lt. William Calley was unjust and very brutal. He made American society look terrible.

Answer 5

because we did the united states did not approve of the communism that was going to be enforced in the southern Vietnam territory

Answer 6

The threat of nuclear war resulted in restrictions on the conduct of the war. It had to be fought as a limited war (limited to conventional weapons=non atomic).

Answer 7

Citizens of a nation should not turn against and attack their own countrymen, many of whom were drafted into military service against their will, and then sent off to war. This was done.

Answer 8

The communist won the war.

Answer 9

Because of the draft.