Political Opposition
History: Cambridge International GCSE The Twentieth Century (Option B), topic 5.3.17
Political Opposition
Politicians reacted to public opinion as they needed to gain votes, so Congress began to oppose the war for several reasons.
Unwinnable war
- The war seemed unwinnable.
- The North Vietnamese were determined to outlast the US.
- The US army was failing to defeat the guerrilla tactics of the VC.
- The limited war that was needed to avoid conflict with China or the USSR would never defeat the North Vietnamese.
Cost
- The war cost $167 billion in total, a lot more than expected.
International relations
- The USA was being criticised by other nations for events like My Lai, and ran the risk of developing into a bigger war against China or the USSR.
Political tactics
- The Opposition party in Congress used the war as a way of undermining the President in order to gain power for themselves, and issues like the draft could gain politicians votes.
Political Opposition
Politicians reacted to public opinion as they needed to gain votes, so Congress began to oppose the war for several reasons.
Congress response
- After the invasion of Cambodia, Congress:
- Limited military funding.
- Repealed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
- Set a cut-off date for troops in Cambodia as 30th June 1970.
- Set a date for the total withdrawal of US troops from Vietnam as December 1971.
International relations
- The USA faced opposition globally, as many people thought that the US should be the leader of the democratic world in the fight against communism but due to media coverage, they saw the US supported a corrupt regime in South Vietnam that was causing a unacceptably high soldier and civilian death toll.
Media coverage
- Events that were shown in the media such as the My Lai Massacre, the Kent State shootings and photographs of the terrible and inhumane effects of Agent Orange and napalm shocked the public and caused worldwide protests.
Test yourself on Political Opposition
Why did congress begin to oppose the Vietnam war?
How much did the Vietnam war cost the USA?
How did the Vietnam war damage American international relations?
How did congress respond to the invasion of Cambodia?
What date did Congress set for the withdrawal of American troops from Cambodia?