USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The dramatization of stories in the news distorted the public’s perception of what was actually happening in the field. Since it was visible in their homes, Americans were able to connect and empathize with the soldiers more than ever before. This caused an outcry of public opinion against the war.

Detailed explanation-2: -Vietnam is often called the “living room war.” Television reduced the space between the battlefield and the viewer. When the media showed the intensity and the chaos of the war with relatively little mediation, it helped turn people against the war. This attitude shift was not lost on the Pentagon.

Detailed explanation-3: -As reports from the field became increasingly accessible to citizens, public opinion began to turn against U.S. involvement, though many Americans continued to support it. Others felt betrayed by their government for not being truthful about the war. This led to an increase in public pressure to end the war.

Detailed explanation-4: -A war known as the “Living Room War, ” represents the power of television reporting on people at home and its ability to turn the public opinion of the war quickly (Horten 37). The Vietnam War is a prime example of this war in the living room.