Vietnam War Effects On American Culture Essay

The aftermath of the Vietnam War left a lasting affect on American culture. This was the the longest and most debilitating war for the United States and changed the U.S. forever. There was overwhelming protest and debate on the war and it divided the country and its leaders on the uncertainty of foreign policy. My mother was just a child during the war itself but her family experienced the aftermath of the war economically, socially and culturally.
The Vietnam War damaged the U.S. economy, spending 168 billion towards the conflict. It also was the reason for the ongoing struggle within American culture and society over the morality and efficacy of the United States government and their handling on foreign policy. The Vietnam …show more content…
Some of the largest changes in policy coming out of the Vietnam War was the lowering of the age for the right to vote and the end of the mandatory draft. My mother recalls that her parents were against the war and did not think highly of the soldiers that fought in it. Her parents continued to be cautious of the United States entering another war. Eventually when my mother met my dad and his prospects of joining the military insured the disapproval of her parents. This is a direct consequence the Vietnam War had on my mother’s family …show more content…
They became friends with other military couples and began exploring the islands. Native Hawaiian traditional culture has clearly defined social classes based on birthright and occupation (Miyares, 2008). The term Haoles, or descendants of American and European immigrants, to Hawaii are not considered “kama’aina” or native to the land (Miyares, 2008). Those people were are not native to Hawaii are considered outsiders and not very welcome. This culture shocked my mother when she began having her children. My brother began school there and was treated differently by the local kids, often bullied or