At first, the media was really acceptive and supportive of the war; America wanted to stop all communism from spreading. It portrayed the war in a positive light and encouraged more and more people to support the war as well. However, as time progressed, people started to realize that this war wasn't as opportunistic as it first seemed, and the media picked up on that.
Photographers traveled with the American and South Vietnam troops that were engaged in the war. They captured the real meaning of the war, taking photos and videos of an unorthodox type of fighting that most Americans had never seen before: Guerrilla warfare. The many hardships that were portrayed through these images quickly changed the views of the people in America.
The My Lai massacre was an event that significantly affected American thoughts on the Vietnam War. The massacre took place in the small village of My Lai in Vietnam, and it involved the deaths of hundreds of innocent civilians at the hands of the United States' army. Originally, the U.S. government tried to cover this story up, but eventually word did spread due to the accidental revelation of the Pentagon Papers, which contained classified information regarding the Vietnam War.
Reporters and newspapers covered the rallies and peace protests that soon took place; the frustrations of families in regards to the war draft were brought to light. Many of the people that participated in these peace demonstrations were of the younger American generation, and they believed that this war was unnecessary. Eventually, in 1972, U.S. troops were recalled from Vietnam.
Written by Nilla Mercado
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