Reevaluation of the Vietnam War - Coursework Example

In November of 1967, the general in charge of the war general Westmoreland came back to the United States and was very positive about the war ending and the troops returning home as they have managed to control the war and gain victory over the Northern Vietnamese. The American people majority of whom were already opposed to the war and how long it had continued and the number of their soldiers killed was ecstatic about the news and hope was clear on the face of the people (Willbanks, 2008).

All this however changed in January of 1968 when the Northern Vietnamese attacked the Americans and the Southern Vietnamese who then retaliated after the initial shock of being caught unprepared. The fight angered the people back in the states as the promise of the war ending had been breached and the confidence of the administration had dwindled completely. The people wanted more than ever for the war to end and not to continue with retaliation which would mean the addition of more troops.

The President’s declaration of the war ending in March of 1968 was therefore made to calm the people down and fulfill their wishes even though the international concern would loom over the decision. Read More