Propaganda of The Vietnam War: How to Sell the War
The conflict of the Vietnam War can be seen in many different ways and opportunities. As a citizen of the United States, we can see it as a struggle or confrontation that was drawn out for twenty-five years. Where over 58,000 lives and billions of tax payer’s dollars were spent in Southeast Asia ("U.S. Army Center of Military History"). A time when the tenure of 5 different presidents struggled to orchestrate the leadership needed to finish the set objectives of the war. In South Vietnam, the conflict emerged when there was division in the country, attempting to form a new style of government and struggled to develop a democratic society. Facing civil war with a weak infrastructure from needing …show more content…
Early in the war the propaganda and anti-Caucasian was focused on France, but was quickly changed to the United States. North Vietnam formed “propaganda agents” as reported by the New York Times. These agents were groups of children under the age of ten, placed in cells of five. The children worked on group activities and reports that supported Vietnam nationalism. Also, it was reported ‘that children were sent to school seven days a week, where they were supervised and learned revolutionary songs, dances and anti-American political slogans”. Many messages were shared between the Vietnamese from people-to-people propaganda. These messages were transmitted between children, parents, priest, etc. Also, in the 1969 the death of Ho Chi Minh was a significant set in the advancement of the North Vietnamese armies. Hanoi recalled many of the troops back from the battlefield to the Ho Chi Minh trail. It was thought by the United States that it was unrest due to the death of Ho Chi Minh. Unknown to the American warriors it turned out that Hanoi was using propaganda messages to the North warriors that the United States were withdrawing units from the battlefield. This propaganda incited greater morale in the North increasing their willingness to fight. Another example of propaganda that was used during the United States tactic of “rolling thunder”, …show more content…
The Americans found themselves in a war, unfamiliar to them. The status of the United States military was old, obsolete, and was geared for a strategic arsenal for traditional assaults as learned in the tactics deployed in World War Two (WWII). The early journey of the war was led through pacifism. The American people were enjoying the fat of the economy following WWII. There was no immediate threat to the states and a fight across the globe had no direct impact on the citizens of the United States. President Eisenhower was the first president that was involved in the Vietnam War. He was being pressured by the Embassy and State Department who was calling for an American commitment to Vietnam (Frankum and Maxner). Because of the Geneva Accords -mandated, which limits American military personnel in Vietnam to 342. Some of the first propaganda used by the United States was in 1961, sending some 1200 personnel, some were civilian and others were military dressed in civilian clothing. All had prior military experience and were placed in Vietnam as advisors. In addition, CIA agents were increased in South Vietnam and Laos. This allowed the United States to get around the limits and restrictions of military personnel allowed in South
The conflict of the Vietnam War can be seen in many different ways and opportunities. As a citizen of the United States, we can see it as a struggle or confrontation that was drawn out for twenty-five years. Where over 58,000 lives and billions of tax payer’s dollars were spent in Southeast Asia ("U.S. Army Center of Military History"). A time when the tenure of 5 different presidents struggled to orchestrate the leadership needed to finish the set objectives of the war. In South Vietnam, the conflict emerged when there was division in the country, attempting to form a new style of government and struggled to develop a democratic society. Facing civil war with a weak infrastructure from needing …show more content…
Early in the war the propaganda and anti-Caucasian was focused on France, but was quickly changed to the United States. North Vietnam formed “propaganda agents” as reported by the New York Times. These agents were groups of children under the age of ten, placed in cells of five. The children worked on group activities and reports that supported Vietnam nationalism. Also, it was reported ‘that children were sent to school seven days a week, where they were supervised and learned revolutionary songs, dances and anti-American political slogans”. Many messages were shared between the Vietnamese from people-to-people propaganda. These messages were transmitted between children, parents, priest, etc. Also, in the 1969 the death of Ho Chi Minh was a significant set in the advancement of the North Vietnamese armies. Hanoi recalled many of the troops back from the battlefield to the Ho Chi Minh trail. It was thought by the United States that it was unrest due to the death of Ho Chi Minh. Unknown to the American warriors it turned out that Hanoi was using propaganda messages to the North warriors that the United States were withdrawing units from the battlefield. This propaganda incited greater morale in the North increasing their willingness to fight. Another example of propaganda that was used during the United States tactic of “rolling thunder”, …show more content…
The Americans found themselves in a war, unfamiliar to them. The status of the United States military was old, obsolete, and was geared for a strategic arsenal for traditional assaults as learned in the tactics deployed in World War Two (WWII). The early journey of the war was led through pacifism. The American people were enjoying the fat of the economy following WWII. There was no immediate threat to the states and a fight across the globe had no direct impact on the citizens of the United States. President Eisenhower was the first president that was involved in the Vietnam War. He was being pressured by the Embassy and State Department who was calling for an American commitment to Vietnam (Frankum and Maxner). Because of the Geneva Accords -mandated, which limits American military personnel in Vietnam to 342. Some of the first propaganda used by the United States was in 1961, sending some 1200 personnel, some were civilian and others were military dressed in civilian clothing. All had prior military experience and were placed in Vietnam as advisors. In addition, CIA agents were increased in South Vietnam and Laos. This allowed the United States to get around the limits and restrictions of military personnel allowed in South