Unit 12: The Vietnam War

1. Unit 12: The Vietnam War The Vietnam Effect: The Home Front

2. The Home Front • The Vietnam War was part of the new modern manner in which America participated in world affairs. • Unlike World War I or II, the new wars of Korea, Vietnam, and on… do not require any participation from the home front unless people choose to partake. • One of the largest questions people asked about America’s new place as a super power was, “Is it America’s place to fight the world’s wars?” • This question led to a new purpose for the home front in a war, as a check on government.

3. “Living Room War” • The Vietnam war was the first war in which television played a major role in how the war was perceived by the people. • Due to a majority of Americans having televisions by the 1960s, the war became a “living room” war as people watched footage of combat on the nightly 6 o’ clock news. • This kept the U.S. public “up to date” on what was going on in the war each day, allowing people to question the actions of the government faster and more frequently.

4. Media Effect • During the Vietnam War the government did not direct any form of censorship of “free of speech” as in letters from soldiers, how the media covered the war, or what or how the people spoke about the war. (especially T.V. shows) • The government also did not create any form of major propaganda campaign to direct the feelings of Americans toward the war. • All of these allowed the Media to play a major part in how Americans viewed the war, especially as they were “in country” getting “bang-bang” footage. (imbedded media field reporters)

5. Media Effect Morley Safer and CBS were blamed by President Johnson for hurting the war effort by reporting about the burning of this village. “Vietnam was lost in the living rooms of America, not on the battlefields of Vietnam.” –Marshall McLuhan Dan Rather Mike Wallace

6. Debate Over the War • As the Vietnam War escalated the general public and Congress became divided over the war: • “Doves” - against the war; usually liberal, new left, Democrats, or youth. • “Hawks” – for the war; usually conservative, ultra patriotic, military minded, Republican, or elders. • From 1966 to 1971, Senator William Fulbright held open hearings to investigate America’s presence, conduct, and purpose in the Vietnam War. • These hearings with major testimonies from key policy makers, combatants, and reporters were influential on public opinion, Congress, and the President.

7. Reasons for Protest Attitude • As the Vietnam war escalated with more people being drafted and flag covered coffins returning to America, a protest attitude developed in America because of: • Sympathy for Vietnamese • Moral Grounds/ Anti-Imperialism • Draft – Rich Man’s war • Counterculture against the Establishment • Government and large corporations role in society. • Racial issues – Civil Rights Movement

8. Peace Movement • As the Cold War developed and the proxy wars broke out many in America worried that if peace was not brokered the end game would be nuclear annihilation. • The first major organization to question America’s foreign policy plans was the National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy ( SANE) which sponsored campus charters in universities across America. • Dr. Benjamin Spock spoke at rally in New York. • The Student Peace Union (SPU) became the first wave of student protest of American foreign policy.

9. Types of Protest • The Vietnam War protests took on many forms from every segment of American life: Anti-War Movement • University Campuses- Sit-ins, teach-ins, marches, occupations, and radical actions. • General Public- marches, protests, rallies, and camp-ins. • Military- Draft Dodgers, draft card burnings, and Veteran marches • Self-immolation – burning oneself to death.

10. The Spark of Protests • In 1964 a group of 12 men burned their draft cards in protest in New York City and by the end of the year Joan Baez led 600 people in an anti-war demonstration in San Francisco. • In 1965 imitating the actions seen on television of the Buddhist Monks in Vietnam, three anti-war activists set themselves on fire: • 82 year old Alice Herz in Detroit • 32 year old Norman Morrison in front of the Pentagon • 22 year old Roger Allen LaPorte at the UN headquarters in NYC

11. The Youth Movement • The radical political movement of the 1960s and 70s was mostly comprised of college students (baby boomer generation) who became social activists. • The college/social activists believed in: • Anti-Draft: rules of draft and idea • Pro- Civil Rights: legal rights of public • Anti- Traditional values: family, complacency; rebelled with sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll • Anti- Establishment: opposed authority of all government, school, family, and society • The university age were the most vocal and outspoken within the Anti-war movement.

12. The Youth Movement • One of the first youth organizations to develop was the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) on the University of Michigan, which called for “participatory democracy” as a way to create a better society. (i.e. Activism) • During the 1960s it grew to be the largest student protest group which advocated non violent direct action tactics( sit-ins, marches, strikes, and boycotts), but grew more violent toward the end of the 1960s.

13. The Youth Movement • The students of UC- Berkley began (1964-65) the Free Speech Movement for freedom of speech and academic freedom due to activist groups speaking about civil rights and the Vietnam War. • Students took over the administration building • Students and Faculty strike for free speech and conduct Teach-ins(special classes to teach about the Vietnam war.)

14. The Youth Movement • The SDS organized the, March Against the Vietnam War, which was the first D.C. rally on April 17, 1965, one month after the U.S. sent its first troops to Vietnam. • 16,000 people picketed outside the White House • Only 4 arrests made • Another was held in 1966 • The Hippie Movement made up of majority youth were major antiwar activists that grew out of the U.C. Berkeley movement, who believed in peaceful protest tactics. (mostly sit-in protests) • Organized aid for Vietnamese.

15. Major Rallies • In 1967 a five day protest was organized by the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam. (100,000 protestors) • The protest escalated when the leaders of the Youth International Party announced they were going to “exorcise” the Pentagon. • People surrounded the building and chanted spells to try and drive out the “evil war spirits” • 2,500 troops guarded the Pentagon with 681 arrested.

16. Major Rallies • In 1969, The Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam was a massive demonstration and teach- in across America that was followed by the largest anti- war demonstration in Washington D.C. • 250,000- 500,000 protestors present • March Against Death led by Dr. Benjamin Spock • Police had learned how to handle protests • 3,000 Police and 9,000 Army troops • Protest was peaceful for the most part • Only 135 arrests made Balloons represent dead of Vietnam War

17. Violence and the Youth • In 1969 a militant group of the SDS, the Weathermen, sponsored a direct action of violence (riot) called Days of Rage to Chicago to “bring the war home.” • Hoped would spread nationally but did not. • During the latter years of the war tensions ran high on college campuses in nation wide student strikes. • Nixon promised to bring “law and order” back to America, which led to the use of the National Guard across America at college campuses.

18. Violence and the Youth • The worst incident that developed in 1970 was on the University of Kent State. (Kent State Incident) • A protest turned to small drunken riot in town at night. • R.O.T.C. building fire (arson) • National guard called in to deal with large protest called on campus. • Four killed and nine injured • Caused massive wave of protest across the country. • Another incident happened at Jackson State with two dead and twelve wounded.

19. The Last Rallies • As the Vietnam War turned another decade and came to an end, protests turned more violent. • 1970 – University of Wisconsin-Madison • Four students bombed the Sterling Hall military research building • One physics researcher dead and three injured. • 1971 - Vietnam War Out Now Rally – 200,000 protestors join with Vietnam Veterans to rally for the final end of the war in Washington D.C. • 1971 - May Day Protests – mass action by Vietnam anti-war militants to shut down the federal government. • civil disobedience -10,000 people arrested • held at Washington Redskin’s practice field

20. The Draft Issue • The military draft led to protests and resistance to being drafted into the military. • Many claimed conscientious objector, physical disability, or homosexuality. • Some became “draft dodgers” moving to foreign countries or hiding from the military. • As more men were drafted into the war, the larger the anti-Vietnam protests became. • Students protested the killing of Vietnam civilians & the draft, especially the large numbers of African Americans, Hispanics, & high-school dropouts being chosen.

21. Vets and the Home Front • The Anti-War movement demonized Veterans as “baby killers”, due to the actions committed in this new type of war that no one directly understood, even though they had served their country and many suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). • The Vietnam Veterans Against the War started in 1967 by Vietnam Veterans to join veterans for support, protests, and to lobby against American foreign policy in Vietnam.

22. Draft Protest • In late July 1965, Johnson doubled the number of young men to be drafted per month from 17,000 to 35,000, and on August 31, signed a law making it a crime to burn a draft card. • On October 15, 1965 the student-run National Coordinating Committee to End the Warin Vietnam in New York staged the first draft card burning to result in an arrest under the new law. • Vietnam Veterans Against the War led Operation Dewey Canyon III. • In April 1971, thousands of these veterans converged on the White House in Washington D.C., and hundreds of them threw their medals and decorations on the steps of the United States Capitol.

23. Veteran Protest • Vietnam Veterans take the Statue of Liberty, December 26th 1971. “Liberation Liberty” • Two dozen members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War "liberated" the Statue of Liberty with a sit-in to protest resumed U.S. aerial bombings in Vietnam. • They flew an inverted U.S. flag from the crown as a signal of distress. 

24. 26th Amendment • One of the biggest accomplishments of the protest movement in America was the passage of the 26th Amendment. • The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age across America from 21 to 18 years old. • Gained major support due to draftees being only 18 years old. • Fastest amendment every ratified by the states.

25. Vietnam Protest and Race • Civil Rights leaders, especially Martin Luther King Jr. were active in the anti-war protests mostly for the issue of race. • Muhammad Alirefused to be drafted into the Vietnam War which led to a court battle and a major debate within the nation. • The Mexican American population protested the war with the National Chicano Moratorium calling the war a racial war with walkouts and demonstrations.

26. Anti-War Slogans and Chants • Common slogans and chants used by Anti-war protestors: • "Hey, hey LBJ, how many kids have you killed today?" personal attacks on the President. • The chant "One, two, three, four! We don't want your f----- war!" was chanted repeatedly at demonstrations throughout the U.S. in the late 1960s and early 1970s. • "Draft Beer, not boys", "H---l no, we won't go", "Make love, not war", and "Eighteen today, dead tomorrow" popular anti-war slogans. • "Fight the VD, Not the VC!" displayed sentiments to concentrate more on the familiar problem of venereal diseases than the foreign group, the Vietcong.

27. Anti-War Songs • Many artists of the time wrote songs about the Vietnam war’s effect on American culture and society. • "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag"– Country Joe and the Fish • Anthem of the Protest Movement • “Blowin’ in the Wind” “Master of War” “The Times They Are A-Changin” – Bob Dylan • “ I Ain’t Marching Anymore” - Phil Ochs • “Fortunate Son” - Credence Clearwater Revival (CCR) • “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy” and “Bring ‘em Home” - Pete Seeger • “Give Peace a Chance” and "Imagine" - John Lennon • War" - Edwin Starr • "The Unknown Soldier" - The Doors • “Eve of Destruction” –Barry McGuire • "What's Going On" - Marvin Gaye

28. Actors and Artists • A major actress of the time Jane Fonda visited North Vietnam earning the name “Hanoi” Jane, she became a major anti-war activist. • Many writers and artists like Allen Ginsberg (RESIST) reflected the tragic events, satirized America’s role, or discussed resistance tactics. • The United Service Organization (USO) provided programs, services, and live entertainment for the troops in Vietnam. • Entertainers like Bob Hope, John Wayne, Sammy Davis Jr., Redd Foxx, and Wayne Newton went to Vietnam. • Football players, Miss America, and even a Playboy Bunny Jo Collins also made appearances.

29. Pro-America • The “Silent Majority” as Nixon called them were the majority of Americans who may not have completely agreed with the war but did not protest it or government. • Popular Pro-war/America slogans of the time: • "Love our country", "America, love it, or leave it“, and "No glory like old glory". • Poplar pro-America songs during the war: • “Okie from Muskogee” - Merle Haggard • “The Ballad of the Green Berets” – Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler • “It’s America” –Ernest Tubb • “Fightin’ for the U.S.A.” – Jerry Reed • “Ragged Old Flag” – Johnny Cash • “Hello Vietnam” – Johnny Wright • “It’s All Worth Fighting For” – Lonesome Valley Singers

30. The Vietnam Effect • The movies that covered the Vietnam war were very different than the patriotic and bolstering films of WWI &WWII, but rather criticized and questioned why America was there and its effects on the nation and soldiers. • “Apocalypse Now”, “Full Metal Jacket”, “Good Morning Vietnam”, “Rambo”, and “Forrest Gump”. • The war in Vietnam tore a major fissure within America society and left it with an uncompleted sense of purpose in the world at large. • America not “winning” the war hurt American patriotism and confidence within itself.