PROTESTING THE VIETNAM WAR U.S. History

Background  Unlike WWII, a large percentage of Americans did not support the War in Vietnam.  Reasons for opposing the Vietnam War  Moral  U.S. was in Vietnam for $$$; innocent people are dying  Practical  Vietnamese people should choose their own government  Reaction to Media  TV shows battlefield footage; reporters say war cannot be won.

Public Approval of the Vietnam War  "In view of developments since we entered the fighting in Vietnam, do you think the U.S. made a mistake sending troops to fight in Vietnam?"

The Living Room War  Vietnam was the first fully televised war  No TV during WWII or Korea  Graphic images of death, violence, and destruction in Vietnam are brought into people’s homes every night.  Over time, people became repulsed by these scenes and began opposing the war.  CBS aired a report by Morley Safer which showed Marines lighting the thatched roofs of the village of Cam Ne with Zippo lighters, and included critical commentary on the treatment of the villagers.  It generated an angry reaction from Lyndon Johnson.  In 1968, during the Tet offensive, viewers of NBC news saw Col. Nguyen Ngoc Loan blow out the brains of his captive in a Saigon street.  And in 1972, during the North Vietnamese spring offensive, the audience witnessed the aftermath of errant napalm strike, in which South Vietnamese planes mistook their own fleeing civilians for North Vietnamese troops.

The Draft  During the Vietnam War, a draft was implemented to recruit more soldiers.  If selected, an individual was required to serve in the military.  Typically, service in the armed forces in on a volunteer basis.  Deferments were offered to college students and people in certain professions (most were middle class/ wealthy and white)  This led to charges of discrimination (as we read in our DBQ)

Protesting the Draft  Conscientious Objection  Opposed fighting in the war on moral grounds  Burning your draft cards  Lighting draft cards on fire as a sign of protest  Fleeing to Canada  To avoid arrest  “Draft dodgers”

Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)  College campuses were hotbeds of anti-war feelings.  Professors and students protested the war  SDS was formed at U of Michigan in  Teach ins  Anti-war demonstrations

Hippies/ Yippies  Make love, not war!  Generally peaceful protesters  Heavy use of marijuana, LSD  Long hair, bell- bottoms, flowers, peace symbols.  More politically active than hippies.  Used theatrical gestures to make larger statements against war.  Pro-drug, but not stoned all the time. HippiesYippies

1968 Chicago  Chicago was the home of the 1968 Democratic National Convention  Dems would nominate their Pres. candidate  Convention draws 10,000 protesters who opposed the war in Vietnam  Most congregate in Grant Park  Hubert Humphrey (pro-war) vs. Eugene McCarthy (anti-war)  Humphrey is nominated; crowd reacts.

August 28 th, 1968  Crowd of 10,000 begins to clash with the Chicago Police (given orders by Mayor Richard J. Daley) and National Guard.  Police beat protesters and use tear gas/ mace to disperse the crowds.  “The whole world is watching!”  1 st amendment rights violated?

Kent State Massacre  May 4 th, 1970  4 unarmed students are killed at Kent State University while protesting U.S. military actions.

Outcomes of Vietnam Protests  War becomes very unpopular across America.  Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) does not seek re- election for president.  Democrats are divided and Republican Richard Nixon gets elected in  Eventually ends war, but not until 1975.