Chapter 22 Section 3

War on Poverty vs. Vietnam $1.2 billion vs. $22 billion (1966) $2 billion/year vs. $2 billion/month “If I left the woman I really love - the Great Society - in order to get involved with that bitch of a war on the other side off the world, then I would lose everything at home. All my programs. All my hopes to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless. But if I left that war and let the Communists take over South Vietnam, then I would be seen as a coward and my nation would be seen as an appeaser and we would both find it impossible to accomplish anything for anybody anywhere on the entire globe. Losing the Great Society was a terrible thought, but not so terrible as the thought of being responsible for America's losing a war to the Communists. Nothing could possibly be worse than that.. “ - LBJ $1.2 billion vs. $22 billion (1966) $2 billion/year vs. $2 billion/month “If I left the woman I really love - the Great Society - in order to get involved with that bitch of a war on the other side off the world, then I would lose everything at home. All my programs. All my hopes to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless. But if I left that war and let the Communists take over South Vietnam, then I would be seen as a coward and my nation would be seen as an appeaser and we would both find it impossible to accomplish anything for anybody anywhere on the entire globe. Losing the Great Society was a terrible thought, but not so terrible as the thought of being responsible for America's losing a war to the Communists. Nothing could possibly be worse than that.. “ - LBJ

The Draft Established during WWI –All males must register with draft boards when they turn 18 –Men between ages of 18 to 26 would be called into military service Medical reasons, college deferments, religious values, and joining the National Guard or Coast Guard were ways to avoid military service. –Sympathetic doctors would grant medical exemptions –Students would enroll in college just to avoid the war –President G.W. Bush served in the Coast Guard to become exempt from fighting in Vietnam. Established during WWI –All males must register with draft boards when they turn 18 –Men between ages of 18 to 26 would be called into military service Medical reasons, college deferments, religious values, and joining the National Guard or Coast Guard were ways to avoid military service. –Sympathetic doctors would grant medical exemptions –Students would enroll in college just to avoid the war –President G.W. Bush served in the Coast Guard to become exempt from fighting in Vietnam.

Who Were the Troops? Youngest fighting force in US history –19 years old –26 in WWII 26 th Amendment (1971) –18 Year Olds Vote Draftees accounted for 62% of fighting force in % poor and working class –Affluent were more likely to receive student deferments, medical exemptions, and appointments to the National Guard and reserve units Youngest fighting force in US history –19 years old –26 in WWII 26 th Amendment (1971) –18 Year Olds Vote Draftees accounted for 62% of fighting force in % poor and working class –Affluent were more likely to receive student deferments, medical exemptions, and appointments to the National Guard and reserve units

African Americans in Vietnam African-Americans served in disproportionate numbers as ground combat troops. –Blacks represented 20% of American deaths, only made up 10% of the US population. Civil Rights leaders spoke out –MLK “cruel irony” of American blacks dying for a country that treated them like second class citizens African-Americans served in disproportionate numbers as ground combat troops. –Blacks represented 20% of American deaths, only made up 10% of the US population. Civil Rights leaders spoke out –MLK “cruel irony” of American blacks dying for a country that treated them like second class citizens

Black Athletes Protest Muhammad Ali was one of the forerunners for the protest –Gave up his boxing career and went to jail to avoid being drafted –Fought, and won, his case on the fact that he was a religious objector. Muhammad Ali was one of the forerunners for the protest –Gave up his boxing career and went to jail to avoid being drafted –Fought, and won, his case on the fact that he was a religious objector.

Women Join the Ranks U.S. Military in the 1960’s did not allow women to serve in combat –10,000 served in Vietnam as military nurses. U.S. Military in the 1960’s did not allow women to serve in combat –10,000 served in Vietnam as military nurses.

The “New Left” A growing youth movement in the 1960’s became known as the “new” left movement. –The “old” left movement was the socialist movement of the 1930’s. –Did not preach socialism, but demanded sweeping changes in American society. Free Speech Movement –Start at Cal Berkley focused on free speech on college campuses –Students spoke out against the American “machine,” powerful businesses, government institutions – AKA “The Man” A growing youth movement in the 1960’s became known as the “new” left movement. –The “old” left movement was the socialist movement of the 1930’s. –Did not preach socialism, but demanded sweeping changes in American society. Free Speech Movement –Start at Cal Berkley focused on free speech on college campuses –Students spoke out against the American “machine,” powerful businesses, government institutions – AKA “The Man”

The Protest Movement Emerges Spring of 65’ – Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) sponsored a march on D.C. where 20,000 people showed up –By 1969 SDS had over 400 chapters In 1966 Johnson changed the draft deferment requirements –Now students also had to be in good academic standing to not be drafted –Campuses erupted in protest Spring of 65’ – Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) sponsored a march on D.C. where 20,000 people showed up –By 1969 SDS had over 400 chapters In 1966 Johnson changed the draft deferment requirements –Now students also had to be in good academic standing to not be drafted –Campuses erupted in protest

“Hell, no, we won’t go!” Draft resistance continued from 1967 until President Nixon phased it out in the 1970’s –US government accused more than 200,000 men of draft offenses –4,000 draft resistors were imprisoned –10,000 Americans fled to mainly Canada War Hawks – Americans should increase the military power to end Vietnam Doves – Those who opposed the war and felt the US should back out Draft resistance continued from 1967 until President Nixon phased it out in the 1970’s –US government accused more than 200,000 men of draft offenses –4,000 draft resistors were imprisoned –10,000 Americans fled to mainly Canada War Hawks – Americans should increase the military power to end Vietnam Doves – Those who opposed the war and felt the US should back out

Questions Imagine you oppose the war and are called to serve in Vietnam. –What decision would you make? –Would you feel guilty if you avoided the draft? –If you chose to serve, how would you view those who did not serve your country? Imagine you oppose the war and are called to serve in Vietnam. –What decision would you make? –Would you feel guilty if you avoided the draft? –If you chose to serve, how would you view those who did not serve your country?

Questions Are religious values a good enough excuse to be exempt from the draft?

Questions Many young men were eager to volunteer for WWII. Why do you suppose this was not the case in Vietnam?

Questions Suppose the U.S. is attacked by an outside country and we mounted a military retaliation. What should we do with those people who dodge fighting for Americas freedom?