The Vietnam War is one of the most controversial topics in American politics. The United States entered the war under the guise of a domino effect, because it believed that if Vietnam fell, neighboring countries would also fall. President Johnson said, “If you let a bully come into your yard, the next day he will be on your porch and the next day he will rape your wife. » One thing that is not controversial is that we lost the war. Many different factors contributed to the failure of the United States' trip to Vietnam. Among many reasons, one of the two main factors in losing the war was American foreign policy and how the United States underestimated the importance of freedom and independence to the people Vietnamese. On top of that, the United States used poor military strategy: instead of focusing on limiting collateral damage, it used heavy artillery that killed citizens and alienated supporters. There was political corruption within the governments of South Vietnam, which meant that they could not build an alternative to the FNL. In the country, public opinion about the war was declining at a steady rate and protests were reaching an unprecedented level. Everything that could go wrong went wrong, and these problems all contributed to a tour in Vietnam that went horribly wrong and an attitude among the American people that was becoming increasingly full of doubts about their government. They lost the war because of their foreign policy. America's mission was not to get rid of communism completely, but rather simply to stop the spread of communism. The United States has had many opportunities to destroy communism; the Korean War would be a prime example. However, for fear that we would seem... middle of paper ...... it changed America, its politics and its foreign policy forever. Not only is this war the longest in American history, but it is also the one that will leave the deepest scar. This war changed the way Americans viewed themselves and tarnished their self-image. The Vietnam War was the first time in U.S. history that the United States failed to achieve its stated war goals of preserving a separate, independent, non-Communist government. Not only has it affected our view of foreign policy, but it has also affected the American people. The war was broadcast on television, for the first time, and this allowed the public to have a first-hand look at what was happening on the battlefield. This war divided the American people and was one of the most polarizing periods in our history. This war will be at the forefront of Americans' minds for many generations to come.