Vietnam War: How it affected America

When and Where

• The Vietnam war started on November 1st, 1955• The Vietnam war ended on April 30th, 1975• The Vietnam war was originally fought between north and south

Vietnam because North Vietnam was pushing for reformation of a communist government, South Vietnam opposed the idea.

Physical affects of the war

• The Vietnam war was one of the nastier wars in American history because of agent orange• Agent orange was an herbicide used by the American government

designed to destroy plants and trees that the Vietcong used for cover• Agent orange is now recognized to have led to multiple types of

cancer and even birth defects.

Mental effects of the war

• PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was the biggest mental effect to come out of the Vietnam war. • An estimated fifteen to twenty five percent of Vietnam veterans were

plagued by PTSD• PTSD takes it’s toll on veterans by robbing them of mental freedom,

the events that they went through never leave their mind

Why did America get involved?

• America viewed the Vietnam war as a way to stop the spread of communism, America and South Vietnam were allies so when South Vietnam was in need of aid America was there to lend a helping hand• Some American citizens felt that the war was unnecessary and

opposed American involvement

Unit Vocab!

• Agent Orange- herbicide used to take down plants and trees that Vietcong would hide behind• Vietcong- North Vietnam soldiers• PTSD- post traumatic stress disorder, disorder in which people can’t

differentiate between prior events and reality in the now• Communism- Social system in which there are two classes, the poor

who work to survive and the rich who make money off the poor