Vietnam War

Domestic effects in the U.S.

The Vietnam war had many long term repercussions for American society and foreign policy.

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War powers

Criticism of the Vietnam War's planning and its enabling legislation led the U.S. Congress to reconsider how military deployments were authorized. After the U.S. withdrawal Congress passed the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which curtailed the President's ability to commit troops to action without first obtaining Congressional approval.

Related Topics:
War Powers Resolution - 1973

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Social impact

The Vietnam War had a powerful impact on American sociopolitical opinion, especially that of the young Americans of the baby boom. For both supporters and critics these opinions generated political positions regarding American foreign and domestic policy. The Vietnam War was also significant in encouraging the belief that mass mobilization and protest can influence government policy.

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The war and its aftermath led to a mass emigration from Vietnam, mostly to the United States and especially after the Communist takeover. During the postwar period over 1 million refugees arrived in the United States (see Vietnamese American). They included Cambodians and Vietnamese of many ethnicities as well as Amerasians, the offspring of Vietnamese and Americans. The integration of these groups, particularly Vietnamese ethnic minorities, generated further social issues in the U.S.

Related Topics:
Vietnamese American - Amerasians

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The vast increase in heroin trafficking and hard drug use in the United States, which escalated rapidly and dramatically in the early 1970s, is widely seen as stemming from the American military presence in Vietnam. Commentators such as historian Alfred W. McCoy cite the virtual epidemic of heroin use in the American forces in Vietnam ca. 1970-71, and the alleged connections between the CIA, the Mafia and local Asian drug lords, as a major causal factor in the subsequent massive expansion of the hard drug trade into America and other western nations.

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Social attitudes and treatment of veterans

Service in the war was unpopular and opposition to the war generated negative views of veterans in some quarters. Some Vietnam veterans experienced social exclusion in the years following the war and some experienced problems readjusting to society. Negative stereotyping of veterans in popular culture was common in the 1970s. Eventually, however, a greater understanding of Post-traumatic stress disorder, previously known as battle fatigue, together with the development of Vietnam veterans associations, generated more sympathy for Vietnam veterans.

Related Topics:
Post-traumatic stress disorder - Battle fatigue

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In contrast to the generous benefits afforded veterans of World War II, Vietnam veterans received benefits no better than those in the prior peacetime service period.

Related Topics:
World War II - Peace

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Many veterans who had been exposed to the defoliation agent known as Agent Orange later developed health problems, resulting in class action lawsuits against the government. The U.S. department of Veterans Affairs awarded compensation to 1,800 of some 250,000 claimants.

Related Topics:
Agent Orange - Class action

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Another important contrast to the post–World War II period is that the acceptability of avoiding service during the Vietnam War has resulted in an increasing majority of U.S. officials, including those elected to major positions, not being war, or even military service, veterans. Each of the eight Presidents from 1945 to 1992 was a war veteran (it is worth noting that even George McGovern, the pacifist Democratic candidate in 1972, was a highly decorated B-24 bomber pilot.) Many who did perform military service during this period did not serve in the war itself, including U.S. President George W. Bush who served in the National Guard. Former President Bill Clinton, after enrolling in the ROTC, successfully withdrew his commitment and did not serve at all.

Related Topics:
1945 - 1992 - George McGovern - Pacifist - 1972 - George W. Bush - National Guard - Bill Clinton - ROTC

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In 1982, construction began on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. (also known as 'The Wall') designed by Maya Lin. It is located on the National Mall adjacent to the Lincoln Memorial. The Three Soldiers statue was added later, in 1984.

Related Topics:
1982 - Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Washington, D.C. - Maya Lin - National Mall - Lincoln Memorial - The Three Soldiers - 1984

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Popular opinion regarding the war and its veterans changed slowly through the late 1970s and 1980s. Vietnam service has become more respected and has been an important feature of several election campaigns, notably U.S. Senators John McCain and John F. Kerry. Kerry, the first Vietnam combat veteran to be nominated as a presidential candidate by a major party, made his service record a major issue in the 2004 U.S. presidential campaign. Although the specifics of his record proved controversial, the fact that he had actually served in combat in Vietnam was viewed as a major political asset.

Related Topics:
John McCain - John F. Kerry - 2004 U.S. presidential campaign

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