The Vietnam War marks a pivotal moment in history because it is the first war that was not decisively won by one of the richest and most successful nations. more powerful. It is one of the most polarized wars to date and an infamous example of how the will of the United States government and the will of the people were in direct opposition. Although surrounded by a thick fog of propaganda, I intend to show that despite the United States' claims to defend the world against communism, this war weakens and undermines civil rights at all levels, from nationally and abroad. The Vietnam War began in 1954 after North Vietnam's victory over the French colonial administration of Vietnam. North Vietnam's goal was to unify the entire country by establishing a central communist administration with the support of the Soviet Union, China, and other communist allies. In 1957, Vietnamese communists, known as the Viet Cong, used guerrilla tactics against anyone who opposed them in the region. The United States government sought to guard against a communist bloc in Southeast Asia and took the opportunity to prevent the inevitable unification of Vietnam's communist regime by carrying out strategic bombing methods in the Northeast. Vietnam and surrounding areas suspected of harboring the Viet Cong. President John F. Kennedy was a proponent of Dwight Eisenhower's domino theory, which held that a communist victory in one country would cause a chain reaction of communist rule in neighboring states. Ronald H. Spector. "The Vietnam War". Britannica, December 23, 2013. The domino theory enabled almost total support from Washington and committed us to an eight-year commitment to mass death and destruction of a small third world country. History....... middle of paper ...... talked about his missions in Southeast Asia. He mentioned how they were forced to burn every possible hut as well as the Southeast Asians' personal property, their food and even their livestock. He also spoke of the cries of women and children heard while carrying out these missions. The Communist Common Front held a…….Conc: The 1960s were a tumultuous time, war divided, continued discrimination of blacks today, compare the progress of civil rights. in the United States and abroad, bring up McNamara (maybe), Kennedy's quote about paying any price for the success of freedom (what price?), "All men are created equals” not so much, bring up Martin Luther King, America. blinded by propaganda, money made, "thanks, but no thanks, USA", government manipulation, ulterior motives, suffering of the Viets, try not to sound like a crazy conspiracy theorist.