The Vietnam War is considered among the most ill-motivated and resources wasteful military engagement in the history of mankind. The war occurred between 1955 and 1975 and the United States using helicopters, and navy ships sent millions of young Americans into the humid jungles of Vietnam to subdue the spread of communist idealism. The war was brought about by the infamous Vietnam Draft Lotteries, which resulted in the death of approximately sixty thousand men and boys (Der Derian). Meanwhile, by the time the war was ending, the number of casualties were extremely high. Prior to the war, citizens of the United States of America had conduct protest across the street to object the involvement of the U.S in Vietnam (Euchner). The protest was unsuccessful as the government proceeded with the mission. However, as the number of destruction and death in Southeast Asia increased, the number of protesters and the frequency of the protests surged (Carothers and Richard). The anti-war movements spread fast to the extent that it won the support of more citizens and some members of the U.S administration. It was a beautiful and astounding response to an unjust war and a leading factor in our ultimate surrender.
The Vietnam War, as well as the protests movement that it ignited, was an indication of a fundamental shift in the relationship between citizens and the United States of America political leaders. The World War II involved many nations hence it was considered necessary and got the support of American (Mahler). However, the involvement of the United States in Vietnam was perceived to go against the moral and ideologies of the American. The war resulted in a demographic shift among individuals who were allowed to get involved in America policy. In fact, the policy resulted in the shift in the age of individual allowed to vote from 25 to 18 (Mahler). The shift was as a result of the 26th Amendment of the United States Constitution in 1971. Since the average age of a US soldier who engages in war and some got killed was 19, it was unreasonable to prohibit them from voting.
Another successful event which showed the success of student political activism occurred during the May 1970 strike which involved more than four million students. The strike lasted for one week and resulted in the temporary closure of colleges because of the protest against the Vietnam War and racial inequality (Euchner). The protest led to the death of many campus student at Kent State University. Even though the antiwar movement was not the main birth of student activism in the United States of America, it is undeniably one of the golden age of pollical participation by an individual of that age group.
The effect of antiwar movement in American policymakers and policy tend to be fairly limited, more so in 1968. Maybe the negotiation effort by Lyndon Johnson was motivated by the rancor at home (Euchner). However, there are various who do not consider the action an achievement since it had a very little impact.
The antiwar movement most likely had a greater effect on the United States policy during the Nixon era. Among all the presidential aspirants of 1968, including Johnson, Nixon is regarded as the only one who was not reluctant to reduce the presence of the United States military in Vietnam and withdraw the United States troops (Mahler). It was considered a bold move because it would have been the first defeat in US history. After winning the election, the antiwar movement influenced Nixon to accelerate the withdrawals of troops as well as pulling out of the Cambodian incursion earlier than it had been planned. Undeniably, memories by Nixon as well as Henry Kissinger, who was the foreign policy adviser suggest a reasonable opposition movement which had been reserved in advance. It is, therefore, important to consider that when Nixon was in a suitable position to conduct the attack by bombing North Vietnam in 1971, he decided to do in the period when most Americans colleges would not be active, i.e., between Christmas and New Year.
In conclusion, the Vietnam war is one of the most counterproductive military involvement in the United States of America history. The war began in 1955 and lasted for 20 years. The determination of U.S to prevent the spread of communism in Vietnam was very high to the extent that they sent millions of millions as well as young boys using planes, rail, and water. While the United States of America administration direct much of the national fund to the war, protests by the United States of America citizen sprouted. The protests were fueled by the high number of deaths upon the American soldiers as well as the increase in economy of the nation. Undeniably, the war brought about adverse effects to both the economic and social aspect of US.