The Vietnam War stands out as an anomaly in United States history. It is hard to say when it began or when it ended – and not just because there was no official declaration of war or a concluding treaty that cemented a new peace. It also stands, as of this writing, as America's only defeat. Like World War II, Vietnam has lingered over American politics for a generation, but unlike the conflict that produced the “Greatest Generation,” the Vietnam War has left a legacy of bitterness and division that the shared horror of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks failed to fully quell and the Iraq War seemed to reignite.

As in other chapters, there is no effort to address every domestic change wrought by the Vietnam War. Significant domestic changes that constitute thematic connections between wars are highlighted here. Like the discussion of Korea, a distinction is made between the larger Cold War and Vietnam. Obviously, the hostilities in Southeast Asia were, at least for Americans, tied up with the larger ideological struggle against communism. Yet the focus here is on those effects that can be linked directly to the hot war in Vietnam. It had a profound influence on one crucial aspect of the American state. The conflict's unpopularity brought the military draft to a halt and, to this day, it shows no sign of coming back. Thus, in contrast to other wars in which state capacities were enhanced, Vietnam saw no significant state expansion.