1. Vietnam War Protest Music Chris Barwick

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

3. 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.

4. 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” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWwgrjjIMXA

5. 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 1965 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX6SuX0Z6AQ

6. 1965-1969 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 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjzZh6-h9fM

7. 1965 - 1969 Joni Mithcell’s “Woodstock” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRjQCvfcXn0

8. 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” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkg-bzTHeAk

9. 1970 Edwin Starr’s “War” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01-2pNCZiNk