Economic & Human Costs 1
History: Cambridge International GCSE The Twentieth Century (Option B), topic 5.3.23
The Economic and Human Costs of the War for the USA
The costs of the Vietnam War went beyond just how much was spent on the war; it also involved massive human and social costs.
Direct cost of the war for the USA
- The war cost America $167 billion.
- In human terms, it also cost them 58,220 dead and 303,704 wounded soldiers.
- 75,000 were severely disabled, and 850,000 had severe psychological problems.
Indirect costs of the war
- The cost of the war was not just how much was spent on the war, but also that this money could not be spent elsewhere, improving lives in America.
- President Johnson had made plans for solving many of the social problems in America called ‘the Great Society’ but it lost out on funding as the money was spent on the war instead.
Other costs
- American pride had been hurt as they had lost a war to a much less industrialised and wealthy country.
- There was a growing lack of trust between the people and the government, military and the police.
- There was also a rift in society between those who had supported the war, and those who had opposed it.
Returning soldiers
- Returning soldiers also faced a hard time when they returned to the USA.
- The draft meant that soldiers were returning throughout the war while opposition was significant.
- They faced a lot of hostility such as being beaten up and discriminated against while trying to find a job.
Mental health
- There was also little understanding of PTSD, and with no access to counselling the rate of suicides among veterans was nearly double that of men of a similar age who had not fought.
Reputation
- The war also cost the USA its reputation abroad, as it had lost face in losing the war and the divisions in society and government made it less respected.
- Many Americans felt the USA should be more careful in the future about getting involved in other countries’ wars, especially with the cooling off of the Cold War in the 1970s.
Test yourself on Economic & Human Costs 1
How much did the Vietnam War cost the United States?