Impact of the Vietnam War

• Impact of VW on Vietnam

  • The war devastated Vietnam, with more than 1 million deaths.

  • After 1975, the Communist government in Vietnam established an

  iron-fisted rule

  • Many South Vietnamese put in “re-education camps”

  • Many subjected to indoctrination, torture and forced labour

  • After the war, suffering continued as the country tried to rebuild its economy and infrastructure

  • USA imposed a trade embargo on Vietnam that was lifted in 1994

  • Economic problems led to gradual privatization in the 1980s

  • Vietnam embraced capitalism economically, but remained communist
• Impact of VW on the USA

  • BANKRUPT IDEOLOGY : USA portrayed their campaign against Communism as a war between good and evil. Their atrocities in Vietnam proved that USA was not morally superior.
  • FAILURE OF CONTAINMENT : USA failed to contain Communism in Southeast Asia. Laos & Cambodia turned Communist soon after the fall of Vietnam
  • WEAKENING OF US PRESIDENCY : Vietnam convinced the Congress that more oversight of the President’s actions was needed. In 1973, Congress passed the War Powers Act to limit the President’s ability to go to war.
• Impact of VW on the COLD WAR

  • After Vietnam, USA tried to improve its relations with the Communist countries e.g. USSR and China

  • Early 1970s, Cold War entered a détente: reduction of tension.

  • 1972: USA and USSR signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty to reduce nuclear weapons.

  • USSR also helped encouraged North Vietnam to agree to the peace talks.

  • USA also ended its block on China’s representation at the UN and Nixon even visited China on a diplomatic visit.