How The Vietnam War Changed America History Essay

How The Vietnam War Changed America History EssayThe Vietnam War was debated by umteen people now and then. If it were not for the Vietnam War and the world to would be a different place. The War itself tackd America.The Vietnam War began in 1957 and ended in 1975, it was the longest war in which the joined States took p contrivance in (The World harbor Encyclopedia). Vietnam is a small country in S push throughheast Asia it is about the size of the state of California with a population during the 1960s of more than 40 one thousand million people (Kent). During 1946, a war started between the French and Vietminh, where on December 19, the French bombed the northern city of Haiphong killing some six thousand Vietnamese soldiers and civilians (Kent). whitethorn 8, 1954 the Geneva Conference, Vietnam was divided into the Communist Democratic Republic of Vietnam, also known as northeast Vietnam, and the non-Communist Republic, called the South. The Vietnam War is also called the Ind ochina War or south Indochina War (The Encyclopedia Ameri rata International ed). In 1955 the United States started sending money to South Vietnam. President Eisenhower also agreed to help train the army. The War had several(prenominal) stages. From 1957 to 1963, the North aided rebels opposed to the government of the south headed by President Ngo Dinh Diem. On Nov. 1st The South generals overthrew the Diem and he was killed on Nov. 2 1963. From 1694 to 1969 North Vietnam and the United States did much of the fighting. President Lyndon B. Johnson sent in U.S. Marines into Da Nang, they were the first ground troops to arrive. Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand also helped South Vietnam. In 1969 the United States had more than 543,000 troops. From 1966-1969 the United States paid $28.8 billion a year in war related costs. In June of 1969 President Nixon announced that the U.S. troops would begin to free (The World intelligence Encyclopedia). In Janu ary 1973, a cease-fire was arranged and the last of the American ground troops left over(p) Vietnam during the next two months (The World Book Encyclopedia). The war did not end here, for two more years the North and South continued to fight until Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam fell to the Communists on April 30, 1975. A total of 57,605 Americans lost their lives in combat. South Vietnamese military lost 220,357 and the North Vietnamese 499,000 people. An additional 303,700 US military personnel were wounded in the battle (The Encyclopedia Americana International ed). umteen people were torn about the war. Some felt that the United States needed to be involved and that it was noble of them. Many others called it cruel, unnecessary, and wrong. This debate still goes on today Americans still do not agree on the goals, conduct, and lessons of the U.S. participation in the war. There were many horror stories from the war, many in which the army tried to hide. In the village of My Lai, soldiers searching for Vietcong suspects, ended up dashing from hut to hut murdering everyone they found. As many as four hundred people died in this spree of senseless violence (Kent). The veterans of most American wars returned as heroes. This was not so with this war. The soldiers that were returning home from Vietnam received no heroes welcome. These soldiers were seen as unbalanced or po extial criminals. Other saw them as the unfortunate victims of Americas terrible mistake (Kent).One form of art that came from the Vietnam War was the recollection. The Vietnam veterans Memorial was designed by Maya Ying Lin, and was created to help heal the emotional and spiritual wounds which the war left as its legacy. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial officially opened on November 11, 1982 almost ten years after the end of the war. In the first five years, it received 20 million visitors (Kent). Still today thousands of people visit the V-shaped monument of lustrous black granite whi ch stands on the Capitol Mall in Washington, D.C. The wall, covered with the names of the U.S. men and women who died. In 1966 the graphicsists Protest Committee organized the Peace Tower, which stood at the corner of old and La Cienega Boulevards. Artist covered the sculpture with over 400 small panels submitted by artist from all around the world. Each panel was an artistic antiwar statement, and artists who submitted works include Philip Evergood, Moses and Raphael Soyer, Robert Motherwell, Jim Rosenquist, Philip Pearlstein, Arnold Meshes, and Judy Chicago. In May of 1970 nearly 2,000 artist gathered at New York University to organize a day long Art Strike. On May 22nd the actual day of the shut voltaic pile, the Jewish Museum, the Whitney Museum, and fifty private galleries shut their doors. The Museum of Modern Art stayed open further ran an antiwar film festival free of charge. blunt Stella closed his exhibit for the strike. The Guggenheim Museum remained open- but waved e ntry fees and removed all paintings from its walls. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Museum of Art had been targeted for a major demonstration by artists for refusing to participate in the Art Strike. For nearly the entire day, hundreds of artists carrying signs reading Art Strike Against Racism, War, Repression. (Vallen)Music can say a lot about an era. During the 1960s and 1970s the traditional outlets in classical, instrumental, ballads, swing, jazz, country, folk and pop, as well as the new soul, Motown, rock and roll, and many other sounds. Many of the musical artists from this era are still popular or well know today. The 1960 was other great year for Elvis. In 1961 Tossin and Turnin by Bobby Lewis was the number one hit of the year. Dave Brubeck delivered some of the best jazz ever. then(prenominal) in 1962 came many dance tenor still played today, Mashed Potato, Twist and Shout, and Loco-motion by Little Eva. In 1963 the world saw new genres of music when pop came out with the Beach Boys with Surfin, Little Stevie Wonder and Peter, Paul, and Mary. The Birth of the Beatles came in 1964. The Fab Four changed the scene of music in America by introducing the Mersey sound and band corresponding Manfred Mann started to be heard as a result. The Supremes and the Four Seasons also started Motown. The number one hit in 1965 went to The Rolling Stones with (I Cant Get No) Satisfaction, while the Beatles stayed self-coloured with the number two spot. 1965 also saw Bob Dylan and Sonny and Cher. The number one hit in 1966 was Ballad of the Green Berets, sung by Sgt. Barry Sadler. This song was a reflection of Americas growing involvement in Vietnam. The Monkees also hit the charts this year and the power of the media was soon to sweep away the power of patriotism. 1967 was a chimerical and wooley year in music. There was a huge mix of styles ranging from ballads to rock to Motown to psychedelia. Aretha Franklin wanted to get a little R-e-s-p-e-c-t. We were born t o be wild in 1968 with Steppenwolf. We also saw Simon and Garfunkel go from lyrical strength to catchy strength. No one could forget about the Beatles, as every song they seemed to write would purloin right to the top. 1969s number one went to The Fifth Dimension with Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In. Sugar, Sugar took the number two spot, while the top ten also include the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and The Doors. 1970 was absolutely huge on the pop music scene, and much of its popularity is still strong today with heaps of real classics from Simon Garfunkel, Stevie Wonder, the Beatles, Aretha and B.B. King still on the pop airwaves. (Vietnam era music top ten hits from each year of the war).During the War many soldiers wrote poetry based on their experiences during the war. Here are a few of my favorites.VIETNAMESE MORNINGBefore war startsIn early morningThe land is breath taking.The low, blazing, ruby sunMelts the night-shadow poolsCreating an ethereal appearance.Each toy dog ho use and treeSprouts its, long, thin shadowStretching long on dewy ground.The countryside is panoramic maze,Jungle, hamlets, hills and waterways,Bomb-craters, paddies, broken-backed bridges.Rice fields glow sky-sheens,Flat, calm, mirrored lakes reverberate the morning peace.The patchwork quilted earth,Slashed by snaking tree-lines,Slumbers in dawns blue light.Sharp, rugged mountain peaksSleep in a soft rolling mantleOf clinging, slippery, misty fog.Effortlessly, languidly, it flowsShyly spreading wispy tentacles outTo embrace the earth with velvet arms.Curt Bennett secure Curt Bennett 2003This shows me what it was that the soldiers saw when they first got to Vietnam the land was stunning until the bombs came and burned down everything.PROFANITYWhen hungry bulletsChew into soft airplane bodiesSending dials and gaugesSpinning in whirling circlesWhen the little red warning lights bellyache in alarm, blink-red, blink-red, blink-redIt is then you discoverThe beauty of profanityAnd the need to know all the wordsBut in no particular order.Curt BennettCopyright Curt Bennett 2003This poem takes me to the moment this soldier thinks that he might die. His airplane has been hit with gun fire and he knows that he will go down he is going to pay with his life for my freedom.BEFORE THE WARI wonder whats the matter with him.Hes not the way he was before.Hes not the way he used to be.The way he was before the war.He had no way of knowingWhat horrors were in store.Then communication ceasedWhen he went off to war.He left while only in his teens.Now hes so much older.The warmth of his youth is gone.His spirits so much colder.His eyes look deeply haunted.He has no joy anymore.He doesnt laugh and rarely smiles.He stares down at the floor.He speaks in cryptic code.He reprimands of blood and gore.Then lapses into silenceSince he came back from war.I wonder what he saw thereThat fills his eyes with fright.All those unknown terrorsKeep him awake at night. reliable sounds will start le himAnd send him out the door.Will he ever have peace again,As he had before the war?He turns away from mirrors.Who he sees must frighten him.Theres no respite in his mindBecause all his thoughts are grim.I dont know what to say to him.I cant talk as I did before.Hes not the person that I knewBefore he went to war.He doesnt even look the same,So pale and so thin.Its like another personCame back inside his skin.He used to be such fun,So easy to adore.Its like he disappearedWhen he returned from war.I wonder what became of him.I never see him anymore.Hes not the person he once was.I mean, before the war.Copyright 2003 Penny Rock All Rights Reserved.With this poem I can really see the boy that left to go in to war, he was young and ready to show the world that he was a man. And that he did, but like so many that returned home from the war he change. The fear of death, killing people, seeing friends and fellow American Soldiers die can take a big toll and a person, they will never be the same again.I might not have been alive during the Vietnam War, but though poetry, art and music I can live the experience without leaving my own home. I can get a feel for the way the world was and how it has change as a result of the war.