1. The Anti-War Movement

2. Anti-War Movement Emerges
As the war dragged on in Vietnam, the public support dropped
Suspicion of the government’s truthfulness about the war grew
In the early years of the war, General William Westmoreland had reported the enemy was on the verge of defeat, but the war continued on for years

3. Anti-War Movement Emerges
Media accounts from reporters stationed overseas told a more depressing story
Vietnam was the first “televised war” with footage of combat appeared nightly in American homes
Credibility gap  it was hard to believe what the Johnson administration said about the war

4. Teach-ins Begin
March 1965  a group of faculty members and students at the University of Michigan joined together at a teach-in
They discussed issues surrounding the war and reaffirmed their reasons for opposing it
May 1965  122 colleges held a “National Teach-In” by radio for more than 100,000 people
People opposed the war for many reasons, and this gave them a forum to discuss those reasons

5. Anger at the Draft
Until 1969, a college student was able to defer military service until after graduation
Therefore, young people from working-class families were more likely to be drafted and sent to war because they could not afford college
Draftees were more likely to be assigned to dangerous combat units
1969  Draftees made up 62% of battle deaths
Majority of the soldiers during Vietnam were volunteer enlistees because it provided vocational training and a source of upward mobility

6. Anger at the Draft 500,000 draftees refused to go when called
Some burned their draft cards, did not show up for induction, or fled the country
Between , the government prosecuted 3,300 Americans who refused to serve the war
April 1965  Students for a Democratic Society marched on Washington with 20,000 people
Arguments over the draft fueled debate over voting age
1971  26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18

7. Hawks and Doves
Hawks  those who insisted that the country stay and fight the war
Doves  those who wanted the United States to withdraw from Vietnam