Today’s Objective We will describe the responses to the Vietnam War such as the draft, the role of the media, the credibility gap, and the anti-war movement. Sub-Objective We will analyze the United States Supreme Court decision of Tinker v. Des Moines.

The Tet Offensive January 30, 1968 Turning point in the war in Vietnam  LBJ Escalates troop involvement to near a half million men  Americans believe we’re close to winning the war  The Vietnamese New Year Tet cease-fire  It showed that the Vietcong could strike anywhere  Americans turn against the war  Credibility gap grows American people and our leaders

The Anti-War Movement SEs: 2B, 8D, 8E, 8F, 20A, 21A

State Standards 21A (r) Analyze the effects of landmark US Supreme Court decisions, including Brown v Board of Education, and other US Supreme Court decisions such as Plessy v Ferguson, Hernandez v Texas, Tinker v Des Moines, Wisconsin v Yoder, and White v Regester. 8E (s) Analyze the major issues and events of the Vietnam War such as the Tet Offensive, the escalation of forces, Vietnamization, and the fall of Saigon. 8F (r) Describe the responses to the Vietnam War such as the draft, the 26th Amendment, the role of the media, the credibility gap, the silent majority, and the anti- war movement.

Doves vs. Hawks American society was divided between “doves” – those who wanted the U.S. out of the war – and “hawks” – those who supported the war.

Doves wanted the United States to get out of Vietnam and saw the conflict as a civil war. They believed the U.S. was fighting an immoral war.

“Hawks” felt the United States was justified in fighting the war because we were protecting democracy and stopping the spread of communism. War Hawks

The Credibility Gap William Westmoreland Robert McNamara Opposition to the Vietnam War grew in the United States in the late 1960s Many Americans were suspicious of the government’s truthfulness about the war Many Americans believed a credibility gap had developed (people lost trust in what the government was telling them)

Draft Lottery Begins During the Vietnam War, the U.S. government began the very unpopular practice of drafting young American men into the U.S. military.

The Draft Many Americans who were against the war believed the United States had an unfair draft system because it targeted minorities and poor.

The Draft Many men refused to go into the military. As a sign of protest, many burned their draft cards or dodged the draft by leaving the country.

Some folks are born made to wave the flag, ooh, they're red, white and blue. And when the band plays "Hail To The Chief", oh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no senator's son, It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no,

Some folks are born silver spoon in hand, Lord, don't they help themselves? oh. But when the taxman come to the door, Lord, the house look a like a rummage sale, yes,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son, no, no. It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no.

Yeh, some folks inherit star spangled eyes, ooh, they send you down to war, Lord, And when you ask them, how much should we give, oh, they only answer, more, more, more, yoh,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military son, SON, NO It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, NO NO

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no no no, It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate son, son son son

Anti-War Protests Escalate Nowhere was the discontent more visible than on college campuses, where young Americans constantly protested U.S. involvement in the Vietnam war.

Free Speech Movement The Free Speech Movement began at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1964 was a major starting point for the anti-war movement.

Free Speech Movement Movement began when the Univ. of California restricted students’ rights to distribute literature to people for political causes Students held a sit-in at the administration building. More than 700 students were arrested.

Student Protests During the Vietnam War, SDS – the Students for a Democratic Society – is created SDS was a student activist movement that was one of the main voices of those who opposed the War in Vietnam.

Anti-War Protests At anti-war protests, many young people chanted “Hell no, we won’t go.”

Anti-War Protests Another chant that was often used was “Hey, Hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?”

Tinker v. Des Moines In 1965, John F. Tinker, his younger sister, and a friend decided to wear black armbands to their school in protest of the Vietnam War.

They were suspended from school for doing so, so they sued the school district, saying their First Amendment rights were being violated. Tinker v. Des Moines

In 1969, in the case of Tinker v. Des Moines, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that wearing the armbands to school to protest the war was protected by their First Amendment right to freedom of speech and expression. Tinker v. Des Moines

My Lai Massacre March 28, 1968 An American platoon massacred over 200 South Vietnamese civilians who they thought were Vietcong in a village called My Lai.

My Lai Massacre March 28, 1968 Most of the victims of the My Lai Massacre were old men, women and children.

My Lai Massacre March 28, 1968 The My Lai massacre increased feelings among many Americans that the war was brutal and senseless.

LBJ Drops Out of Race "I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President." March 31, 1968 President Johnson refuses to run for re-election in the Election of 1968 re-election in the Election of 1968

Impact of media on war The media – newspapers, radio, and television – had a great influence on shaping public opinion during the conflict in Vietnam.

Impact of media on war The Vietnam War was the first war where people saw video footage of a war being fought on their TV screens during the nightly news.

Impact of media on war Around 90 percent of nightly news broadcasts was about the war in Vietnam.

Impact of media on war The television coverage from Vietnam showed people the ugliness of warfare and helped to turn many people against the war.

Television impact on war When, after the Tet Offensive, CBS anchorman Walter Cronkite said that the war was unwinnable, most Americans believed him.

Television impact on war After hearing Cronkite’s comment, LBJ said “If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost Middle America.”

Small group purposeful talk What role do you think the media plays today in coverage of conflicts involving the United States?

Independent Practice I will write a essay describing the role of television during the Vietnam War and its role in igniting the anti-war movement.