By Irma, Zach, Anu, and Jasmine

Causes of Protests  Opposition to the Draft threatened mostly lower class and middle class views that the draft was unfairly administered angered blue-collar Americans and minorities Student activism (colleges and universities) followed the free speech movement and the civil rights movement, students were ones being drafted mobilized the baby boomers of early-1950’s who were most at risk

Causes (cont.)  Opposition to U.S. Intervention Some believed that Communist threat was used as a scapegoat to hide imperialistic intentions, popular with college protests Others believed that American intervention interfered with the "self-determination" of Vietnam. Vietnam had a civil war that was the citizens’ own conflict, U.S. had no right to intervene to determine U.S. desired gov’t

Causes (cont.)  Media Coverage Television allowed media to dispense battlefield footage directly to the public Graphic footage of casualties on the nightly news eliminated myth of the glory of war With no clear sign of victory in Vietnam, media images of American military casualties helped to motivate the opposition (Vietnamese) Civilian deaths, which were downplayed or omitted entirely by the media, became a subject of protest when photographic evidence of casualties emerged (My Lai Massacre)

Important Figures  Senator J. William Fulbright- Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, openly criticized Vietnam war in public, televised hearings, wrote The Arrogance of Power, questioning the justification of the Vietnam War  George F. Kennan- “father of containment”, criticized U.S. involvement in Vietnam, arguing that the United States had little vital interest in the region and the war had little justification  Robert F. Kennedy- U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator, Kennedy made a speech where he raised the issue of morality and the Vietnam War. Kennedy was opposed to troops being sent to Vietnam and the unnecessary death of many South Vietnamese civilians in the war FulbrightKennan Kennedy

Key Events  1965 UC Berkeley draft protests  Student Strike of 1970 (due to Kent State protests)  1967 March on Pentagon, earned large- scale media attention  1969 Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam  1971 Veterans March on Washington D.C.

Demographics  Whites made up a big majority of the population opposed to the war. But protests were often held by black organizations such as the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)  By the end of the war, American students had become opposed to the war and were a significant political force. They demonstrated their opposition through teach-ins and big peace marches in New York and Washington D.C.

Short-term effects  Loss of trust in the U.S. government, Johnson’s approval rating dropped drastically  Morale quickly fell in the camps after seeing anti-war protests at home  First wide-scale refusal of the draft, college students burnt their draft cards  Military became less popular, soldiers were criticized for going to war

Long-term effects  Draft has not been used since  Johnson ratings never recovered, he withdrew from the next election  Troops were pulled from Vietnam partly due to protests  Lesson to the American government about fighting wars, American society would see war for what it really was  Media Coverage in wars and battle increased drastically (i.e. Iraq and Afghanistan)

Anti-War Protest: Short Term Effects  In general: Nixon blamed protests for emboldening enemy’s efforts. Dissidence at home = split attention = a better chance of success for the enemy. – Media also blamed for helping prolong the war  coverage on protests and war front created more anti-war sentiment.

Anti-War Protest: Short Term Effects  Many students protesting the war:  attack on ROTC programs  drive out military recruiters on college campuses

Refusal to Serve in War  Draft card burnings

Draft Dodging!

One Long Term Effect…  People drawing parallels between Vietnam and Iraq/Afghanistan. Anti-war protestors see both as lost causes.