Vietnam War Social Climate Analysis
Social Climate During the Vietnam War
American involvement in Vietnam initially enjoyed strong support in the United States but as the conflict continued without signs of an eminent conclusion, public opinion changed. Disapproval of President Johnson's limited approach to fighting increased. For the first time television brought the war to the "living rooms of America". And the constant coverage of the war and of injured and killed young American soldiers and civilian Vietnamese spurred protests against the war. President Johnson was soon fighting a war on two fronts, an internal domestic war and the war in Vietnam. Some individuals labeled "doves", thought America should negotiate a quick settlement with the Communists in order to get out of Vietnam. Others, nicknamed "hawks" believed the war should be waged more vigorsly to bring the Communists to their knees. The growth of anti-war movement was composed of a variety of groups; some radical, some more moderate and with a variety of conflicting demands and objectives. Dissension and violence within the movement repulsed many sympathizers but despite these shortcomings, growing numbers of ordinary Americans participated in the …show more content…
The public remained in flux, confused and disheartened by the war but unwilling to advocate withdrawal. Polls taken in the summer of 1967 revealed that a majority could not specify the war aims, but a majority did not believe it had been a mistake to enter the war. Majorities opposed increasing troop levels and withdrawal. Approval of Johnson's handling of the presidency dropped to 38 percent in Oct. 1967. While most leaders of the anti-war movement understood that their views did not represent the thinking of a majority of the public, they gradually came to believe it did not take a majority to change policy. By 1968, opposition to the war forced President Johnson to withdraw from the presidential
American involvement in Vietnam initially enjoyed strong support in the United States but as the conflict continued without signs of an eminent conclusion, public opinion changed. Disapproval of President Johnson's limited approach to fighting increased. For the first time television brought the war to the "living rooms of America". And the constant coverage of the war and of injured and killed young American soldiers and civilian Vietnamese spurred protests against the war. President Johnson was soon fighting a war on two fronts, an internal domestic war and the war in Vietnam. Some individuals labeled "doves", thought America should negotiate a quick settlement with the Communists in order to get out of Vietnam. Others, nicknamed "hawks" believed the war should be waged more vigorsly to bring the Communists to their knees. The growth of anti-war movement was composed of a variety of groups; some radical, some more moderate and with a variety of conflicting demands and objectives. Dissension and violence within the movement repulsed many sympathizers but despite these shortcomings, growing numbers of ordinary Americans participated in the …show more content…
The public remained in flux, confused and disheartened by the war but unwilling to advocate withdrawal. Polls taken in the summer of 1967 revealed that a majority could not specify the war aims, but a majority did not believe it had been a mistake to enter the war. Majorities opposed increasing troop levels and withdrawal. Approval of Johnson's handling of the presidency dropped to 38 percent in Oct. 1967. While most leaders of the anti-war movement understood that their views did not represent the thinking of a majority of the public, they gradually came to believe it did not take a majority to change policy. By 1968, opposition to the war forced President Johnson to withdraw from the presidential