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A Nation Divided. The draft. A “very manipulated system” How to dodge the draft: Sympathetic docs Lenient draft boards Natl Guard/Coast Guard College deferment All of these methods are available for those who can pay for them This war is fought by lower economic levels and minorities.
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The draft • A “very manipulated system” • How to dodge the draft: • Sympathetic docs • Lenient draft boards • Natl Guard/Coast Guard • College deferment • All of these methods are available for those who can pay for them • This war is fought by lower economic levels and minorities
Protest groups • New Left- sweeping change • Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)-corporations had taken over America • Free Speech Movement (FSM)-free speech on campus of Cal-Berkley • But why…..
Johnson demands ‘good academic standing for deferments’ • Vietnam was a civil war • South Vietnamese regime no better than Commies • World police draining our country • Morally unjust • US lives being lost • Media/Credibility Gap
Doves-those that want to end the war • “Hell, No, We Won’t Go!” • “Hey, hey LBJ, how many kids you kill today?” • Hawks-those that want to end the war also, but by winning it • “Support our men in Vietnam” • “America-love it or leave it” • 1967-70% of polled Americans thought anti-war protests acts of disloyalty
Credibility Gap • LBJ is telling the American people that the war is successful and in US control • The people are feeling differently through media, personal experience, relatives • This gap is the ability of the people to trust or believe in LBJ and the government…and it’s widening.
1968 • LBJ Struggles • RFK being pushed to take over for Pres. • Johnson makes a speech outlining an end to escalation and peace talks to begin • Then pauses and shocks the country by announcing he will not run for re-election • “That…war killed the lady I really loved-The Great Society.”
Assassinations • RFK is assassinated in a LA hotel • His assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, was angered by his support of Isreal • Leads to Hubert Humphrey • MLK assassinated by James Earl Ray • Rioting would follow
Democratic Convention • Yippies and cops go out of control during protest • Tear gas and riots are surrounding the convention and starts to impact the events inside. • Opens door for Republican Richard Nixon • VID