1. #57 Chapter 22 Section 3 Notes
A Nation Divided
OBJECTIVE: Understand how the Vietnam War divided America.

2. I. The Working Class Goes to War
A “Manipulative” Draft
Selective Service System, draft, calls men into military service.
Thousands look for ways to avoid the draft. Consequences?
Many ---- mostly Whites, affluent --- get college deferment.
80% of U.S. soldiers come from lower economic levels.

3. African-Americans in Vietnam
Serve in disproportionate numbers in ground combat.
Racial tensions high in many platoons; add to low troop morale.
MLK was an outspoken critic of war.

4. Women Join the Ranks: 10,000 serve, mostly as military nurses.
Thousands volunteer

5. II. The Roots of Opposition
The New Left:
Youth movement of 1960s, demand sweeping changes.
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Free Speech Movement (FSM):
Criticize big business, government; want greater individual freedom.

6. Campus Activism: New Left spreads across colleges.
Students protest campus issues, Vietnam War.

7. III. The Protest Movement Emerges
The movement grows, small numbers of returning veterans protest; protest songs popular.

8. War Divides the Nation
Doves strongly oppose the war, believe U.S. should withdraw.
Hawks favor sending greater forces to win the war.
1967: 70% of Americans believe war protestors are disloyal to the U.S.

9. LBJ continues slow escalation, is criticized by hawks and doves.
Combat stalemate leads Defense Secretary McNamara to resign.

10. Ch.22.3 Q’s
Do you think it was right for the government to imprison draft resisters? Explain.
Do you agree that antiwar protests were “acts of disloyalty”? Why or why not?