why was the vietnam war called the tv war
I was torn between support for the grunts in the field and vocally voicing protest against the wrong war in the wrong country. Government censorship over the media influenced this outlook—if the press wanted access to stories about the war, they had to receive credentials from the military. Televising the Vietnam War helped to divide a nation that took pride in its ability to unify. North Vietnam was a Communist state and had allies among the Soviet Union, China, and other Communist countries. This was done to expose hiding enemy troops. Civil rights, voting rights, a drug culture and poverty were key issues being tackled by the federal government during the 1960s. The stories were broadcast as motion pictures shown in theaters. (i) This was a war that had been called the first television war, as battle scenes were shown on the daily news programmes. This story presents an important point: should we televise the horrors of war. 1 of 5. Editor`s Special! It was part of a larger regional conflict as well as a manifestation of the Cold War. Our fatigues were severely worn and without unit patches, rank and name tags - no identities. Historians must only guess at the effect that television would have had during earlier conflicts on the future of this Nation: during the Korean war, for example, at that time when our forces were pushed back there to Pusan; of World War II, the Battle of the Bulge, or when our men were slugging it out in Europe or when most of our Air Force was shot down that day in June 1942 off Australia. It began from 1 November 1955 and came to the end with the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. chelseabailey19. What are the causes of US involvement in the war, in Vietnam? By 1972, the idea that Vietnam posed a threat to Cold War America was so discredited, it sometimes sounded as if America’s only remaining war aim was to … During World War II, morale was high. c. began escalating its commitment of troops to the war in Vietnam. The war was fought between the North Vietnamese and the South Vietnamese throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. jessidani. Laos and Cambodia took part in siding with France and fought the French. Terms and Slang From the Vietnam War . Like so much about the Vietnam War, the popular term “Lyndon Johnson’s War” is neither simple nor clear-cut, and subject to interpretation and debate. Americans could see military abuses on television, such as the My Lai Massacre in 1968, which sparked riots in cities and university campuses across the nation. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. It began in 1954, after the country of Vietnam was split into two parts, North Vietnam and South Vietnam. Content Guidelines In 1965, the United States. The Vietnam War (1955–75) was a time of great controversy in the United States. The main focus of the media was high morale and support for the war effort. However, it is believed and accepted by many that the war began on November 1, 1955, and ended on April 30, 1975. In addition, the strong public anti-war opinions expressed in the media influenced U.S. policy makers. well its not like there has only been one war in Vietnam. After the Tet Offensive in 1968—which the public saw as a defeat—reports turned unfavorable toward the war effort. And visit our Vietnam War website for researching related National Archives records. During the question and answer session following the briefing I questioned the value of our participating in a civil war where the side we were going to support was only half-heartedly, if that much, supporting the effort. This media coverage differed from that of past wars. To succeed, they had to do something unprecedented: on-site coverage of the war in Vietnam. (i) This was a war that had been called the first television war, as battle scenes were shown on the daily news programmes. From 1950 to 1966, the percentage of Americans who owned a television skyrocketed from 9 percent to 93 percent as televisions became essential for everyday life. No one can say exactly what effect those vivid scenes have on American opinion. That is a bad feeling to have about a governmental body, that they lack so much credibility that everything they say is scrutinized for lies. The stories were broadcast as motion pictures shown in theaters. So people criticised the war. 10 terms. At the same time, advances in video and audio recording enabled both easier and more news coverage. They competed for the finest reporters, highest-rated equipment, and largest number of viewers. 5. Before publishing your Article on this site, please read the following pages: 1. 1 decade ago. South Vietnam was supported by anti-communist countries including the United States and the Philippines as well as Vietcong to the sout… South Vietnam was at war however with North Vietnam. Nearly eight weeks before the 2 August 1964 Tonkin Gulf Incident, Lyndon Johnson made a statement to reporters at a press conference that the U.S. would defend South Vietnam against Northern aggression. CAUSES OF THE VIETNAM WAR. For the first time in American history, the news from the front lines was brought straight into the living room. The Vietnam Conflict, which lasted from 1965 to 1973, was the first televised war in American history. The official line was that Americans were winning in Vietnam… The Vietnam War is one of the few contemporary armed conflicts which received extensive ideological media coverage. Because Vietnam wasn’t the only country that fought the French While most heavy fighting happened in Vietnam, they didn’t fight alone. To succeed, they had to do something unprecedented: coverage of the war in Vietnam. By seeing the war on television, the anti-war advocates argued that the war was unnecessary, and hundreds of thousands of “American boys” were not dying for a noble cause. The Wikipedia page for it gives various estimates of its death toll: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Revolution. To give an appropriate answer to this question you have to confirm beforehand whose side you are on. So why was Vietnam called the first “television war”? Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia are seen as the battlegrounds of a larger Indochinese conflict that began at the end of World War II and lasted until communist victory in 1975. The conflict was initially between North and South Vietnam, but many other countries became involved. The Vietnam War was a long conflict in Southeast Asia. TV forever changed the way Americans viewed war As casualties rose, the country increasingly turned against the war. With the proliferation of televisions, news networks strived to have the most exciting, dramatic, and attractive stories. To learn more, visit the National Archives’ Vietnam War exhibit, “Remembering Vietnam,” in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery on display through January 6, 2019. The stories were broadcast as motion pictures shown in theaters. 2. In 1962 as an NCO in a Marine Reserve company I and others were briefed on the political and physical problems we would face during combat in Vietnam. In contrast, the television news networks had a bleaker view of the war in Vietnam. The Vietnam conflict is often referred to as the “first television war.” Film from Vietnam was flown to Tokyo for quick developing and editing and then flown on to the United States. How to solve: Why was the Vietnam War also called the Second Indochina War? Nicknames were easier to remember so that was how we… a. doves. Cold War tensions ran high as the country relentlessly fought against the alleged evils of communism. By 1967 only one in three Americans believed the Vietnam War was not a mistake. for researching related National Archives records. Big stories like the A-bomb stayed out of the news until after the war ended. 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Copyright. 14 PreserveArticles.com is an online article publishing site that helps you to submit your knowledge so that it may be preserved for eternity. And visit our. In contrast, the pro-war supporters regarded anti-war marches as disloyal to U.S. soldiers. In 1976 the two halves of Vietnam were united in a single Socialist Republic. There is no question that few conflicts have been as violent, long lasting and complex as the Vietnam War. In the early years of World War II, during the time of their pact with Nazi Germany, the notorious Katyn Forest massacre of captured Polish officers was carried out. This outrage, fueled by television coverage, ultimately led to the decision to withdrawal of U.S. troops in 1973, and end of the U.S involvement in the war. Vietnam War (1954–75), conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam and its allies in South Vietnam, the Viet Cong, against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. The Vietnam War was the greatest struggle of the Cold War era and the only major military defeat in United States history. Today’s post comes from Madie Ward in the National Archives History Office. I especially enjoyed the effort to contrast Vietnam media coverage with previous wars. Lower numbers were called first. That all changed with Tour Of Duty.. Set in 1967–1968, this groundbreaking drama series follows an infantry platoon as they fight the … Aug 16, 2015. What was the influence of China on Vietnam’s culture and life? Your email address will not be published. Camera crews stayed in noncombat areas to show the happier, more upbeat side of war. Indochina is the name of the peninsula in which Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Burma sit. What were the effects of rebuilding of Hanoi by French. However, the two largest communist nations, the Soviet Union and Communist China, had both committed atrocities with millions of victims that were quite fresh in the memory of American Cold War leaders. The Vietnam War took place during a time in America’s history where the nation was engaged in a “Cold War” with the Communist U.S.S.R and was grappling with numerous social ills. Journalists wrote day-to-day coverage and recorded their stories in the field. Camera crews stayed in noncombat areas to show the happier, more upbeat side of war. By Brittany Ramjattan | August 12, 2020. Vietnam War 100%. South Vietnam fought to keep this from happening. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dekulakization, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Purge, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katyn_massacre, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Revolution, https://www.ushmm.org/confront-genocide/speakers-and-events/all-speakers-and-events/genocide-and-mass-murder-in-the-twentieth-century-a-historical-perspective/the-chinese-case-was-it-genocide-or-poor-policy, Monkees vs. Macheen: Head (1968) – Misadventures in Blissville, Masks required + EXTRA: journalism | efnotebloc, Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrated jumping frog of Calaveras County, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Center for the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity, Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library, George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum, Green v. County School Board of New Kent County, International Federation of Film Archives, Joint Committee on the Investigation of the Pearl Harbor Attack, Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum, Memorandum for Cabinet Secretaries and Agency Heads, Movie vs. So people criticised the war. 50 years later: Impact of Vietnam War still felt today. So why was Vietnam called the first “television war”? The vietnam war called as 'first television war' because it was the first war that was brought into America's living rooms where many people were exposed greatly to the horrors of war. When serving during the Vietnam War, many of us were unaware of the real names of our fellow soldiers in the bush; the exception being those extremely close to us. This caused an outcry of public opinion against the war. As for Mao’s China, the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution ran from roughly 1966-76, occurring simultaneously with the Vietnam War right next door. Vietnam: The History of an Unwinnable War, 1945-1975. Our mission is to liberate knowledge. For the first time in American history, the news from the front lines was brought straight into the living room. For Vietnam, it was officially an "aid and exploration of affiars" mission. Re. Kennedy sent the first troops, but called them "military advisors" not soldiers, even though they were fully trained american troops. This ensured that the news didn’t report anything that the military did not want disclosed to the public. Lv 5. The dramatization of stories in the news distorted the public’s perception of what was actually happening in the field. However, the US started direct military action in Vietnam in 1964 until 1973. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam and Sou… Among the most notorious phases were the forced collectivization of agriculture including the dekulakization (eliminating an entire class of wealthier farmers deemed politically unreliable: “the kulaks”) and the Holomodor (where a man-made famine especially impacted the Ukraine). During World War II, morale was high. This new and much more direct way of viewing the war led to the average American receiving a daily dose of the Vietnam conflict. Although not participating in action during the Korean War, with the cease fire there just 10 years old, I had lived through the controversy surrounding that opening gun, if you will, of our participation in foreign adventures not to our advantage. (ii) US people could see how thousands of young US soldiers had lost their lives and countless Vietnamese civilians had been killed. Important stories could be transmitted directly by satellite from Tokyo. The Cold War. I responded that was the genesis of my question which was never satisfactorily answered. Privacy Policy On April 1, 1968, the day after President Lyndon B. Johnson announced that he would not run for reelection, he stated: As I sat in my office last evening, waiting to speak, I thought of the many times each week when television brings the war into the American home. Each day there were photos printed in newspapers and later in the evening combat was broadcasted on the television. When the citizens of Saigon prepared for their Lunar New Year — also known as Tet — on Jan. 30, 1968, they cleaned their houses and boiled their celebratory rice cakes. Lenore Sobota. And the newscasters, To learn more, visit the National Archives’ Vietnam War exhibit, “, ,” in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery on display through January 6, 2019. More here: >>> http://vietnamveterannews.com/1117/. The U.S involvement in Vietnam had started as early as 1950 when Harry Truman sent military advisors to aid the French. They saw the perils of the battlefield and felt an obligation to support their troops regardless of whether they should be there or not. Because Vietnam used to be a French colony, and was called French Indochina. All the articles you read in this site are contributed by users like you, with a single vision to liberate knowledge. The Vietnam War was the prolonged struggle between nationalist forces attempting to unify the country of Vietnam under a communist government and the United States (with the aid of the South Vietnamese) attempting to prevent the spread of communism. In fact, they believed that the United States was involved in a war in which they shouldn’t be involved at all. This gave Americans a more realistic glimpse into the lives of their soldiers, and they didn’t like what they saw. The whole experience soured me on anything emanating from Washington DC which lasts to this day. 3 0. If I see anyone from the federal government talking on any subject I immediately am suspect and look for the lies in what that individual is saying. True, our South Vietnamese allies were hardly paragons of liberal democracy. Again, there is nothing particularly prejudicial about the term. A footnote from that page linked to a 1995 talk by a scholar at the U.S. How did this long war between the US and Vietnam come to an end? The Vietnam War and Media: How Television Played a Vital Role in the War. Since it was visible in their homes, Americans were able to connect and empathize with the soldiers more than ever before. Disclaimer History. Aug 16, 2015. The Vietnam War (Vietnamese: Chiến tranh Việt Nam), also known as the Second Indochina War and in Vietnam as the Resistance War Against America or simply the American War, was an undeclared war in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. The disagreements between the pro-war and anti-war advocates caused a partition in the American population that still persists. The U.S. held its first draft lottery on Dec. 1, 1969, giving young men a random number tied to their birthdays. I was part of the half supporting our troops effort while at the same time totally convinced it was the wrong war for us to be engaged in, especially with the Prevaricator in Chief leading it. the Soviets, most scholars agree the dead number in the millions. Camera crews stayed in noncombat areas to show the happier, more upbeat side of war. The Vietnam War was really an extension of the Vietnamese War of Independence from the French. And the newscasters shared only good news and reported bad news with a cheery disposition. Updated December 13, 2018. At the same time, advances in video and audio recording enabled both easier and. (ii) US people could see how thousands of young US soldiers had lost their lives and countless Vietnamese civilians had been killed. 1 year only $26. They competed for the finest reporters, highest-rated equipment, and largest number of viewers. Agent Orange An herbicide dropped on the forests and bush in Vietnam to defoliate (strip the leaves from plants and trees) an area. Americans who opposed the Vietnam War were called. 18 terms. The Americana's called it the Vietnam War because Vietnam was the place where the war was taking place. The censorship that was in effect during World War II was much more lax by the 1960s. Johnson was so concerned about TV reporting because he knew that Vietnam was the first war during which a majority of Americans relied on television as their main source of news. Many Vietnam veterans who had been exposed to Agent Orange during the war have shown an increased risk of cancer. With the proliferation of televisions, news networks strived to have the most exciting, dramatic, and attractive stories. For further info see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dekulakization ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Purge ; & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katyn_massacre. I did find the first paragraph’s phrase “alleged evils of communism” a bit debatable. PreserveArticles.com is a free service that lets you to preserve your original articles for eternity. Thanks for this informative article. By the mid-1980s, there had been TV shows set during the Civil War, World War II, and the Korean Conflict, but never the Vietnam War. TOS Was this answer helpful? During World War II, morale was high. Then in the latter 1930’s, there was Stalin’s Great Purge, known in Russia as the Yezhovshchina). 10 years ago. I was told I did not understand the situation. It was played out not only in Vietnam itself but also in Laos and Cambodia. The korean war… I … 3. PreserveArticles.com: Preserving Your Articles for Eternity, In 1954 a conference was held in Geneva to conclude an armistice agreement with regard to Vietnam, Notes on the national liberation movement in Vietnam and Indonesia after the end of the World War II. This was the first war that television acted as the major medium of news for most folks at home. Will. 4. Second Indochina War. A U.S. This latest business with the viral epidemic just reinforces the adage, “If their lips are moving, they’re lying.”. In the end, the American soldiers thought they won the war on the ground, however, they claimed that their victory was stolen on the TV screens. Both Cold War superpowers cynically used the victims and the suffering caused by the Vietnam War for propaganda objectives. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. North Vietnam wanted to reunite the country under Communism , its political and economic system. America supported South Vietnam with troops, weapons and other measures. I think I am not alone. Vietnam War: The period of conflict remembered in the United States as the Vietnam War took place from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s. Camera crews were on-site almost constantly in combat zones. In this era before cable television, whole families still gathered to watch the evening news. The name "Second Indochina War" places the conflict into context with other distinct, but related, and contiguous conflicts in Southeast Asia. Let’s take the war between France and Vietnam from 1945 until the Geneva accord in 1954. The outbreak of the war began when a French colony named Indochina, which included Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, was invaded by the Japanese during World War II.