Decades since the end of the war, arguments have gone on about whether the United States ’ withdrawal from Vietnam was a military defeat or a political defeat. Some say that our withdrawal of Vietnam was not the troops’ fault but the fault of those in Congress. Johnson was forced to raise taxes due to spending on defense and as inflation grew. The Republicans would not vote for the increase in taxes until a six billion dollar cut was made to the administration’s social programs. Also, the United States spent 120 billion dollars on the Vietnam War. Because of a big federal budget deficit which occurred.

     After Vietnam , presidents of the United States wanted to punish Vietnam for the many losses we obtained. Trade to Vietnam was cut off completely. Because of this, the Vietnam economy was badly damaged. By 1985, Vietnam was begging the Soviet Union for help.

     Not only did the Vietnam War cause an economical deficet for the United States, it also divided the country socially, between the pro/anti-war groups. The anti- war group, better know as hippies, were pro-peace and staged many anti-war protests. On the other hand, the very patriotic pro-war group felt that extremely confident because they lived in a country  who had never lost a war to date, and whose resources were limitless. So they naturally assumed that all their weapons and firepower would ensure victory in a couple of months.

     Tim Lickness, Vietnam veteran, spoke of his return home from the Vietnam War. He said the veterans were not really welcomed home or appreciated in any manner. A girl in college even refused to go on a date with Time Lickness because he was a Vietnam War veteran. He speaks of his willingness to fight for America . All he expected was a little appreciation.