Explain the causes of the US involvement in the war of Vietnam. What effect did this involvement have on life within the US itself?
The US policy planners were scared at the victory of Ho Chi Minh government and had thought it would start domino effect- communist goverments would be established in other countries in the area. Inorder to stop the communists from gaining power US decided to intervene decisively and start war against Vietnam
Effects of the involvement of US in Vietnam on life of the America:
(a) US intervention led to a prolonged war between Vietnamese and United States of America. Even though US had advanced technology and good medical supplies casualties were high.
(b) Many were critical of the goverment for getting involved in a war that they saw as indefensible.
(c) When the youth were drafted for the war, the anger spread. Compulsory service in the armed forces, however, could be waived for university graduates. This meant that many of those sent to fight did not belong to the priviledged elite but were minorities and children of working class- families.
(d) Many books were written and films were made to expose the disastrous effect of the war, e.g. John Coppala’s Apocalypse reflected the moral confusion that the war had caused in the US.
