Section 3: Vietnam Divides the Nation Chapter

A Growing Credibility Gap ‘65, there were many supporters – Gallup Poll: 66% approved U.S. involvement Approval ratings dropped – Suspicious of the gov’s truthfulness about the war – 1967: General Westmoreland “enemy was on the brink of defeat” Media painted a different picture – First televised war – Images of deceased and the wounded Credibility Gap – hard to believe what the Johnson admin. said about the war

An Anti-war Movement Emerges People began to protest the war Teach-Ins: March 1965 –Staff and students at U of M had a teach-in –Informally discussed the issues –Inspired teach-ins at many schools –By May, 122 colleges held a “National Teach-In” by radio for more than 100,000 antiwar demonstrators

Teach U. of Michigan Reasons for protest: 1.Some saw the conflict as a civil war in which the U.S. had no business 2.Others viewed South Vietnam as a corrupt & immoral dictatorship

Anger at the Draft Young protestors focused on the unfair draft system A college student could usually defer military service until after graduation Low-income families were more likely to be sent to Vietnam By 1967: Afr. Americans accounted for 20 of combat deaths—2x their proportion of the U.S. pop –MLK speaks out in 1967 against the conflict

Increasing the Draft Call U.S. officials increased the draft call, putting college students at risk 500,000 draftees refused to go –Publically burned their draft cards –Did not report when called for induction Some fled the country to Canada, Sweden, or other nations Others stayed and went to prison rather than fight

The Draft & Voting Age  Prosecuted over 3,300 Americans for refusing to serve 1969  Gov’t introduced a lottery system –Low lottery numbers were subject to the draft April 1965, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organized a march on Washington, D.C. –20,000 protestors Anger over the draft fueled debate about the voting age –Old enough to fight, but not vote?? –1971: 26 th Amendment Changed age to 18

Hawks & Doves Growing opposition, but Johnson remained determined –But the majority opinion  68% favored continuing the war 1968: Nation divided –Doves: Wanted to withdraw from Vietnam –Hawks: Wanted to stay and fight

Hawks v. Doves Activity With your group, carefully read each excerpt to determine whether the speaker supports (“Hawk”) or does not support (“Dove”) increased U.S. military involvement in Vietnam. On the appropriate side of your T-chart, write the number of the excerpt and a short summary in your own words of the argument(s) the speaker uses to support his position.

Summary Your group will use this information to help form a recommendation on this question: – Should the president significantly increase U.S. military involvement in Vietnam? – 6-8 sentences answering the question, support your answer!!! – Include and disprove a counter argument, to help support your claim. (What would the other viewpoint say in response?? Explain why that’s less important)