why did some americans continue to support the war in vietnam?

Answer 1

Misinformed stupidity,,,,

Answer 2

That's a very difficult question to answer.

While it was obvious to many that the Vietnam War was taking a heavy toll of life and limb. The draft was in full force, and it was splitting families apart.

There were people that believed that by pulling out the entire continent of Asia would succomb to communism, which in the 1960's was as big if not a bigger menace than radical Islamists are now.

The Cold War was a major reason that the US was in Vietnam in the first place.

For some people supporting the American military efforts in Vietnam was an issue of patriotism. For some it was a matter of pride, as the US has had few military failures in its past. To pull out for some, meant defeat.

For my father, who was an airman in Thailand during Vietnam, and my stepfather who was an airman in Vietnam, they were more against those who protested the war, than they were supportive of the War.

You see it was and still is a complicated issue in the US. It's personal for many, including myself. I love my dad, and I grew up watching the slide show of Vietnam pictures that my step-father had. However, I also think the US involvement was way too much and resulted in too many deaths and injuries for little return, and a fight against a dubious threat such as Soviet influence.

Good question.

Answer 3

The reasons differed from person to person, just look at the current war we are fighting.

However, a large reason for the support was the anti-communism sentiment. North Vietnam was a Communist country. During this time we feared Communism (just look at the McCarthy trials the decade before).

Many felt that if we didn't win the war, then Communism would spread and would threaten our own way of life.

Answer 4

Anti-communism to the extent that all common sense was despatched into nothingness. You had Vietnamese villages being destroyed in order to "save them from Communism". The US propped-up a South Vietnamese state that was extremely authoritarian, corrupt and nepotistic. The South Vietnamese military lacked motivation and performed poorly compared to other SEATO forces. Many supporters of the Vietnam War deluded themselves into thinking South Vietnam was a liberal democracy, when it was far from it.

Given the US' nationalist narrative of being the "good guys", the concept of a morally ambiguous war was too upsetting for many to consider. Many tried to frame the complexities into an ill-considered good versus bad.

What the Vietnamese people wanted was to be left alone, and not be subject to a proxy war by the Superpowers.

Answer 5

Yeah, in a manner i assume. the ingredient is, the Northern Vietnamese attacked Southern Vietnam. The French on the time occupied Vietnam. u.s. is an best chum to France, so they had to help them out. So did different international locations. whilst u.s. have been given there, they found out that Vietnam can fall interior the hands of the Communists. So, u.s. then says that if Vietnam falls to the Communists, then all of Asia additionally will. So then the conflict raged on and protests have been overwhelming lower back interior the states. finally, u.s. withdrew and Vietnam became a Communist u . s . a ..

Answer 6

Plenty of reasons. First, many saw it as the burden the Americans had taken on and that they had a duty to aid and assist the South Vietnamese. It was promise keeping more then anything else. They believed and many still do that they let the South Vietnamese down due to a failure in will, the cost which was enormous for American prestige. It also lead to people being less likely to trust American promises of aid and assistance in the future. As such withdrawal was not an honourable course prior to ensuring the safety of the South Vietnamese.

Answer 7

Some was probably just plain old pride--remember we had just come off WWII, so that was still there. I agree with the person who said that alot of it was support for the troops. Right now, I don't support the "war" in Iraqi. (Personally, I can't figure out why we went there first.) However I do support the troops. We are there for whatever ****-eyed reason and they are putting there lives on the line. We can support the men(and women), if not the cause. I am willing to bet that was a lot of the support in Vietnam.

Answer 8

I know it was a combination of pride, misinformation, and old time values. sounds stupid, huh? The support was less for the war and more for the boys sent to fight. I lived through it...I wore, and still do, my POW/MIA bracelet. I watched, along with everyone else, the newscasts, and listened to the stories of the people who made it home. The old timers (grandma and grandpa) supported it because it was the American thing to do...the younger generation (mom and dad) supported the troops..like most now do with the Iraq thing. The youngest generation fought against it, protested it, and ultimately made the soldiers coming home feel shame, guilt and worthlessness...hearts in the right places, but all out of whack on the practice.

Answer 9

Americans have a hard time believing in a virtuous loss.

When the French gave up on their former colony, and condemned thousands in the process, the American papers were filled with visions of communists indiscriminately killing pro-democracy Vietnamese. (visions which came back after the US failed in the South)

These roadside executions happened because these poor people wanted to live in a democracy.... Some Americans' hearts went out to those people....

Answer 10

may not always agree with whomever runs the U.S.A. but will defend her with my life if necessary. wasn't really the support of the U.S. government but the military who were laying their lives on the line everyday. remembering that freedom is never cheap and all gave some and some gave all for establishment and maintaining of this freedom.

Answer 11

It was very profitable for those who had shares in the arms industries and the rest just believed government propaganda