It is the course of the war that shaped the American people's reaction and not the reaction of the American people that affected the course of the war. American public's reaction may have played a small part in shaping the course of the war, as the president could not escalate without public support. Increasing criticism within the administration and congress it self, anti war reports of the media and the cost of the war were all issues that caused the anti war feeling. However all these issues were generated from the war itself. The Tet Offensive and the My Lai Massacre amongst many other events showed to everyone back at home, the point where "things start to go wrong in a war"(Michael Herr). The weaknesses of the Americans in the Vietnam War greatly contributed to their failure. These failures were gradually shaping the course of the war and thus the growth of anti war feeling in the administration and the congress and the general public who saw number of dead soldiers being brought back. Therefore it was not just the public's reaction that shaped the course of the war.

The Vietnam War itself was enough proof that was needed to show tha

All of the above would have had a great affect on Johnson and impinged on his confidence. Johnson agonised on what to do. There was pressure on him coming from all sides. The 'Wise Men' were advocating some kind of retreat in Vietnam, Congress were constantly criticising him, the media reports were worsening every day and the protests against war were also growing by the day. Johnson knew there would have to be some kind of reversal in Vietnam. He agonised about announcing change in US policy, scared to admit that his country had been in error. He was also unwilling to betray the Americans who were fighting and dying in Vietnam. "These establishments and bastards have bailed out" he once said of the 'Wise Men', but now he had no choice. On March 1968 he offered to stop bombing North Vietnam if Hanoi would agree to talks

It was the course of the war that brought the horrific media reports. The media reports had an affect on the public's reaction. The cost of the war, the public's reaction and the media reports had an influence on the Congress and the administration that brought the criticisms on President Johnson, partly because politicians were sensitive to the wishes of the voters. These criticisms, public protest and the way the war seemed to be failing and the economic problems it was causing, all brought pressure on the president. All of these criticisms would have had a big effect on Johnson's confidence and thus affect the course of the war. All of the issues the war caused were the factors that shaped the course of the war. Therefore the public's reaction was partly responsible in shaping the course of the war but not entirely. However the source of all these issues and criticisms were brought on by the war itself.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Vietnam War, Offensive Americans, Robert Kennedy, President Johnson, Vietnam Congress, Cronkite TV, Johnson Americans, Vietnam Hanoi, Clark Clifford, Tet Offensive, course war, anti war, public's reaction, media reports, vietnam war, tet offensive, anti war feeling, shaping course, dead/ wounded, shaped course, war feeling, shaped course war, shaping course war, factors shaped course, war public's reaction,
Approximate Word count = 1213
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)