Vietnam War Protest Music Chris Barwick

Context The 1960s and 1970s were a time of war, social unrest, and protest

Argument The different rock/folk protest songs throughout the 1960s and 1970s mirror the changing political climate in the U.S. Many of the first anti-war songs criticized the overall idea of war and the nation’s imperialistic foreign policy Anti-war songs over time increasingly attacked the U.S. federal government and more aggressively demanded specific political and social change.

1962 The War: A few thousand military advisors Protests: More general and against U.S. imperialist foreign policy Protest Song: Bob Dylan’s “Blowing in the Wind”

1965 The War: U.S. was now actively engaging in combat after LBJ sent roughly 180,000 additional troops to Vietnam after the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Protests: As the war began to escalate, the tone of anti-war songs became angrier and reflected many American’s discomfort with the fact that young soldier’s were being killed in an anti-communist proxy war Protest Song: “Turn! Turn! Turn!” performed by The Byrds in

The War: Quick, violent escalation Protests: Massive protests and America on edge Protest Song: Jimmy Hendrix’s rendition of the Star- Spangled Banner at Woodstock in

Joni Mithcell’s “Woodstock”

1970 – The Breaking Point The War: Invasion of Cambodia and expansion of the draft Protests: Kent State and other University Protests Protest Song: Neil Young’s “Ohio”

1970 Edwin Starr’s “War”