Final answer:
As the Vietnam War dragged on, the response of many Americans was divided. Initially, most Americans supported the war, but as it continued, opposition grew and many began to question America's role. There were also Americans who continued to support the war, viewing it as crucial for America's credibility.
Step-by-step explanation:
As the Vietnam War seemed to drag on indefinitely, the response of many Americans varied. In the early years of the war, most Americans supported the war effort and viewed antiwar protests as unpatriotic. They believed that increasing troop strength and intensifying bombing would force North Vietnam to surrender. However, as the war continued and the government's reports started to conflict with the reality on the ground, some Americans began to question America's role in Vietnam.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, opposition to the war grew significantly. Tens of thousands of Americans were attending antiwar protests, and over 60 percent of Americans called for an immediate end to the war by the time of the 1972 election. The credibility gap between the government's reports and the actual situation in Vietnam caused many Americans to lose faith in the war and the government.
Despite the growing antiwar sentiment, there were also Americans who continued to support the war. They believed that the war was crucial to maintaining America's credibility and to prevent the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia. They saw the protests as a threat to civil order and were suspicious of the rapid social changes happening during the 1960s.