2.10 - Debating the War in Vietnam

American soldier and group of Vietnamese villagers

This article included a collection of six primary source excerpts, three from U.S. presidents of the time that were justifying the war in Vietnam, and three from groups that were critical of the war. The presidents believed that it was America's duty to get involved in Vietnam to help the civilians there and to prevent Communist ideas and groups from spreading and gaining traction. Groups that were opposed to the war believed that it was not the U.S.'s business to get involved, and that they were only impeding on the peace, freedom, and self-sufficiency of Vietnam, as well as getting thousands of young American men killed in a fight that was not worth their deaths.