Why was the invasion of Cambodia during the Vietnam war such a big deal???

Question:Im researching the national student strike in 1970, and it says how students went on strike due to Kent State shootings and the invasion of Cambodia. Why was it such a big deal to these students? I agree that it is an expansion to the war, but what effect does this have on the students?? What are they worried about?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Im researching the national student strike in 1970, and it says how students went on strike due to Kent State shootings and the invasion of Cambodia. Why was it such a big deal to these students? I agree that it is an expansion to the war, but what effect does this have on the students?? What are they worried about?

In general, the 60's caused a lot of young (and older) people to question our government. People were angry because we were involved in a war that they perceived as having nothing to do with us. The French had pulled out of VietNam and we walked in their supposedly to "stop the expansion of communism" and because Cambodia was being used as a staging area for the communists against American troops in Viet Nam. Cambodia was having a serious impact in the Viet Nam war and causing huge problems for American troops. To an older generation of Americans, the war was justified (at least initially). The fear of communist taking over the word had been ingrained in the population from WW2. The younger generation, looking to rebel against something (or anything) saw the war as a vehicle for their angst.

Specifically, the invasion of Cambodia was the icing on the cake, so to speak. It was referred to as "the secret war" because Nixon approved the move without the knowledge of the American public. No one basically knew we were even involved in Cambodia until we were well entrenched in there. People were outraged.

After WW2 and through the 1950's, Americans, in general, lived in blissful ignorance and had a pretty idealized view of the U.S. and its world power. The younger generation at the time began questioning "the American Dream" and didn't particularly like the answers. They were also children of a pretty prosperous time in American history and hadn't been through the struggles of the depression and WW2, as their parents and grandparents had. The children of the 60's had the "luxury" of rebellion.

The result of their questions and protests is what you have today. There is very little that the American government can get away with without the public finding out. The government is a lot more accountable to the public than it was back before the 60's and people are more likely to question motivations and activities. That's not to say there are things that our government does that we don't have a clue about . . . its just a lot harder to keep "secret". Americans are a lot more cynical about their government than they were prior to the 60's. They question more, the media's scrutiny is a lot more involved, etc. There is far less fear of government than their was back then.

As a college student of that era I can tell you what I and my fellows were concerned about - the DRAFT! Once the draft ended my recollection is that the anti-war protests fell off dramatically. On every campus there was a small clique of lefties that was committed to the destruction of just about everything. A large number students were in college to avoid the draft and they wanted the war over before they either graduated or were licked out.

"Poke a saint deep enough and you will find self interest."

north vietnamese troops were using cambodia as a jumping off point to attack american forces in vietnam - they were going into cambodia from the north going down south and re-entering - infiltrating vietnam. NVA North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong - both communist troops - attacking american and south vietnamese forces - cambodia was invaded at points were the communitsts were invading from - supplies - troop concentrations were attacked - cambodia was offering shelter and comfort - protection to communist troops - supply lines were also bombed by usaf heavy bombers B-52's and by ground attack fighter jets - the students thought that the attack was unprovoked but north vietnamese were entering through the border - and exiting back - the end of the vietnam war when us forces were surrounded on many points were viet cong were everywhere - the cambodian border was a main point of entry

The draft is the best way to inpire war protests, thats why they are not doing it now, it could start a new revolution. Our war with Cambodia was a government secret and Nixon was on TV lying to the people about it. That what caused the national upset. We are still killing hundreds of Cambodians each year with the millions of land mine we left behind. Sorry our bad....

peace and love