Vietnam War Student Protests/ Counter Culture 1964 – 1973

Student Activism Pentagon Papers Pentagon Papers Described how US Gov’t lied about war Baby-boomers and college Baby-boomers and college –Many went to college –Had a different world view than their WWII-era parents Students for a Democratic Society (University of Michigan) Students for a Democratic Society (University of Michigan) New Left New Left

Free Speech Movement UC – Berkley UC – Berkley –Students’ free speech hampered by school officials, they protest –Police are called in –Students take over Admin. Building –Students and Faculty strike for free speech Teach-Ins Teach-Ins –Teachers have special classes to teach about Vietnam War

Resistance to War Selective Service Act – Draft Selective Service Act – Draft Conscientious Objectors – oppose war on religious grounds Conscientious Objectors – oppose war on religious grounds –Example: Muhammad Ali Deferment – college students don’t have to be drafted Deferment – college students don’t have to be drafted 1965 – LBJ doubles # of men drafted twice during the year 1965 – LBJ doubles # of men drafted twice during the year 1967 – College students with low scores could be drafted 1967 – College students with low scores could be drafted

Avoiding the Draft Thousands claim to be conscientious objectors, physical disabilities, or move to Canada Thousands claim to be conscientious objectors, physical disabilities, or move to Canada 1967 – Marches in NYC and Wash, DC to protest war 1967 – Marches in NYC and Wash, DC to protest war 1968 – 200 major demonstrations at colleges and universities 1968 – 200 major demonstrations at colleges and universities 1969 – National Chicano Moratorium Committee – claims war is racial 1969 – National Chicano Moratorium Committee – claims war is racial

Counter Culture Similar to 1950’s Beatniks Known as Hippies Similar to 1950’s Beatniks Known as Hippies Sexual Revolution – more open talk and practices, more people living together instead of getting married “Make Love, Not War”, birth control pill Sexual Revolution – more open talk and practices, more people living together instead of getting married “Make Love, Not War”, birth control pill Drug Scene – influenced Counter Culture (Marijuana, Lysergic acid diethylamide = LSD) Overdoses – Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison Drug Scene – influenced Counter Culture (Marijuana, Lysergic acid diethylamide = LSD) Overdoses – Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison

Music World Woodstock Music Festival in NY state Woodstock Music Festival in NY state –200,000+ people –“Three days of peace, love, and music” August, 1969, High Point of Counter Culture Altamount – Rolling Stones concert held at Speedway in CA Altamount – Rolling Stones concert held at Speedway in CA –300,000 attend, Hell’s Angels used as security, killed a fan –Signaled the end of the Counter Culture

End of the War LBJ chooses not to run for reelection in 1968 after Tet Offensive LBJ chooses not to run for reelection in 1968 after Tet Offensive Paris Peace talks begin in May, 1968 Paris Peace talks begin in May, 1968 Richard Nixon elected president, says that US will turn war over to South Vietnamese Army (Vietnamization) Richard Nixon elected president, says that US will turn war over to South Vietnamese Army (Vietnamization) –1968 – 543,000 –1972 – 39,000 –1973 – Draft ended

Invasion of Cambodia Nixon begins secret bombing of Cambodia in 1970 Nixon begins secret bombing of Cambodia in 1970 Caused civil war in Cambodia Caused civil war in Cambodia Kent State (OH) – students protest, Burn ROTC building, National Guard kills 4 students and wounds 9 Kent State (OH) – students protest, Burn ROTC building, National Guard kills 4 students and wounds 9 Jackson State (MS) – similar to Kent State, 2 killed, 9 wounded Jackson State (MS) – similar to Kent State, 2 killed, 9 wounded

American Withdrawal 1972 – Nixon launches heaviest bombing of war 1972 – Nixon launches heaviest bombing of war “Peace is at Hand” Jan, 1973 – Peace Treaty signed “Peace is at Hand” Jan, 1973 – Peace Treaty signed –US removes all troops –POW’s released –Laos and Cambodia given freedom –17 th parallel – still border

South Vietnam Falls and Legacy of War Without US support, South Vietnam loses war, Without US support, South Vietnam loses war, April, 1975 – War ends April, 1975 – War ends US costs US costs –58,000 Americans killed –300,000 wounded –$150 billion spent –Millions of Vietnamese killed –Laos and Cambodia become communist  Pol Pot US after the war US after the war –Soldiers treated poorly when they come home –26 th Amendment – 18 to vote –Vietnam War Memorial – The Wall –US opens trade with Vietnam in 1994