Download Emily Cushing Conflict: Cold War Topic: Vietnam War Argument

Emily Cushing
Conflict: Cold War
Topic: Vietnam War
Argument: The Vietnam War was the most significant effect during the Cold War because it led
to a completely new era in the United States. Many young teens underwent a time of protests
towards the world and most people were unhappy with the U.S government. There was also
many deaths and war ravaged land in Vietnam which affected both countries input on the Cold
War. Lastly, it took up a lot of the time the Cold War was going on, which makes it a pretty big
deal and it led to many new events.
Primary Source: Last night I announced to the American people that the North Vietnamese regime had conducted further
deliberate attacks against U.S. naval vessels operating in international waters, and I had therefore directed air action
against gunboats and supporting facilities used in these hostile operations. This air action has now been carried out with
substantial damage to the boats and facilities. Two U.S. aircraft were lost in the action.
Our policy in southeast Asia has been consistent and unchanged since 19554. I summarized it on June 2 in four
simple propositions:
1. America keeps her word. Here as elsewhere, we must and shall honor our commitments.
2. The issue is the future of southeast Asia as a whole. A threat to any nation in that region is a threat to all, and
a threat to us.
3. Our purpose is peace. We have no military, political, or territorial ambitions in the area.
4. This is not just a jungle war, but a struggle for freedom on every front of human activity. Our military and
economic assistance to South Vietnam and Laos in particular has the purpose of helping these countries to repel
aggression and strengthen their independence.
As I have repeatedly made clear, the United States intends no rashness, and seeks no wider war. We must make
it clear to all that the United States is united in its determination to bring about the end of Communist subversion and
aggression in the area. We seek the full and effective restoration of the international agreements signed in Geneva in
1954, with respect to South Vietnam, and again in Geneva in 1962, with respect to Laos...
Johnson, Lyndon. "The Tulfin Gulf Incident." Speech. 5 Aug. 1964. PBS. 29 Mar. 2005. Web. 8 Apr. 2010.
<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/psources/ps_tonkingulf.html>.
Primary source: Joint Resolution of Congress
H.J. RES 1145
August 7, 1964
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the Congress approves and supports the determination of the President, as Commander in Chief, to take all necessary
measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.
Section 2. The United States regards as vital to its national interest and to world peace the maintenance of
international peace and security in southeast Asia. Consonant with the Constitution of the United States and the Charter of
the United Nations and in accordance with its obligations under the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty, the United
States is, therefore, prepared, as the President determines, to take all necessary steps, including the use of armed force,
to assist any member or protocol state of the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty requesting assistance in defense of
its freedom.
Section 3. This resolution shall expire when the President shall determine that the peace and security of the area
is reasonably assured by international conditions created by action of the United Nations or otherwise, except that it may
be terminated earlier by concurrent resolution of the Congress.
"Joint Resolution of Congress." Letter to President Lyndon Johnson. 7 Aug. 1964. PBS. 29 Mar. 2005. Web. 8 Apr.
2010. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/psources/ps_tonkingulf.html>.
Secondary Source:
VIETNAM WAR definition: A U.S.-led effort assist to South Vietnam in repelling communist forces from North
Vietnam. The first U.S. ground forces arrived in Vietnam in 1965. The war continued and spread into neighboring
Laos and Cambodia. More than 57,000 U.S. troops were killed. U.S. forces withdrew in 1973 after the signing a
peace accord in Paris. Communist forces triumphed in 1975 with the capture of South Vietnam's capital city,
Saigon.
"GLOSSARY: LYNDON JOHNSON." PBS. Web. 09 Apr. 2010.
<http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/glossaries/johnson.html>.
Secondary Source:
Taking office in January 1969, President Nixon appointed Melvin Laird as secretary of defense, William Rogers as
secretary of state, and Henry Kissinger as National Security Advisor. Nixon expanded the policy adopted at the end
of the Johnson administration of turning more of the fighting over to the South Vietnamese. Known as
“Vietnamization," it increased the size and capabilities of the ARVN and gradually withdrew U.S. ground forces.
Nixon intensified the bombing campaign and entered into secret negotiations with the North Vietnamese. He also
ordered secret B-52 bombing of Cambodia and later sent U.S. ground troops into that country, all to buy time for
Vietnamization. But these actions intensified the antiwar movement in the United States. By December 1970, U.S.
troop strength had declined to 334,600. In January 1973, following an intense bombing campaign of North
Vietnam (Linebacker II), the United States, RVN, NLF, and DRV signed the Paris Peace Accords and American
prisoners of war started coming home. U.S. casualties amounted to 47,244 killed in action, and 10,446 deaths from
other causes. Another 153,329 received serious wounds. During the same period, 15.4 million middle- and upperclass American men successfully evaded the draft. The burden of fighting the war fell disproportionately on lowerclass Americans. Early in 1973, Nixon also ended the military draft.
The war continued in South Vietnam, and the RVN government requested the military assistance promised by
Nixon and Kissinger during the peace negotiations. But the Watergate scandal paralyzed the administration and
Nixon resigned. His successor, Gerald R. Ford, was unable to secure congressional assistance for America's ally. In
April 1975, the RVN fell to PAVN forces. During the Vietnam War, RVN armed forces lost at least 110,357 killed in
action and 400,026 wounded. Hanoi has announced that 1,100,000 Communist fighters lost their lives and another
600,000 were wounded during the period 1954–75. It has given civilian deaths at more than 2,000,000 over the
same time period.
Lewis, Adrian R. "Vietnam War." In Tucker, Spencer C., gen. ed. Encyclopedia of
American Military History. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2003. American History Online. Facts
On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE52&iPin=EMHIII0284&SingleRecord=True (accessed April 9, 2010).