Effects on the United States

Division of the United States:

At the start of the war, there were smaller anti-war protests, who didn't want the U.S. to enter the war and become involved with another draining event. However, it was after the U.S. began to bomb Vietnam in which the anti-war protests began to grow in numbers, and a rift began to grow within America. The divided nature of the U.S. is why some people believe that the U.S. lost the war, because in the end, they were left more broken than when they entered the war. The division was especially shown during the Kent State shooting, in which four students were killed and nine were injured after the Ohio National Guard opened fire on a crowd who had gathered to protest the Vietnam War.

The 26th Amendment:

Due to the war, young men, at least 18 years of age, were being sent to fight for the U.S. in the war. However, this ignited a debate that was being had since World War II, about the legal voting age. Because 18 year olds were being sent to the war, people argued that the voting age should be moved from 21 years old to 18 years old. This would turn into the 26th amendment, which allowed citizens of the United States who were 18 years or older to be allowed to vote in all elections.