Growth in Opposition to the Vietnam War (Edexcel GCSE History): Revision Note

Summary

In democracies, the politicians and leaders of a country are chosen by its people in elections. People had strong anti-war opinions about America fighting Vietnam and this view became more popular as the war went on. As a result, in order to win elections, politicians in both America and around the world became more critical of the Vietnam War.

Why did political opposition to the Vietnam War grow?

• Political opposition to the Vietnam War increased for several reasons:

  • An increasing number of voters did not support the war

  • Some politicians believed the South Vietnamese government was corrupt and the US should not support them

  • The cost of the war had led to government spending cuts (less money is spent on public services) back home as well as tax rises

  • They had seen the horrors of the war on TV and had heard appalling accounts from returning soldiers

How did Congress oppose the Vietnam War?

• Opponents to the war came from both the Democratic and Republican political parties

• The amount of opposition in Congress gradually increased as the war went on but was particularly strong after Nixon attacked Cambodia and Laos in 1970 and 1971

• Nixon’s escalation of America’s involvement in Southeast Asia led to Congress withholding funding and revoking the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

The impact of worldwide opposition to the Vietnam War

• The war in Vietnam put a great strain on its friendships and relationships with other countries

• Some countries had sent troops to fight alongside the Americans

• These countries included:

  • South Korea

  • Australia 

  • New Zealand

• Much like in America, strong anti-war movements developed in these countries which put pressure on them to pull troops out.

  • Australia withdrew its troops in 1971 and New Zealand did the same in 1972

• Other countries, such as Britain, Germany, Japan and Canada were supportive of the war but did not send troops

  • Anti-war movements grew in these countries leading many politicians and public figures to be openly critical of America’s involvement in Vietnam

  • There were major anti-war protests in these countries, including one in London’s Trafalgar Square that led to over 200 arrests

• The leaders of these countries were often caught between wanting to be supportive of a major ally but also trying to please their own increasingly anti-war populations