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Section 3: Vietnam Divides the Nation

Section 3: Vietnam Divides the Nation. Chapter. A Growing Credibility Gap. ‘65, there were many supporters Gallup Poll: 66% approved U.S. involvement Approval ratings dropped Suspicious of the gov’s truthfulness about the war

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Section 3: Vietnam Divides the Nation

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  1. Section 3: Vietnam Divides the Nation Chapter

  2. A Growing Credibility Gap • ‘65, there were many supporters • Gallup Poll: 66% approved U.S. involvement • Approval ratings dropped • Suspicious of the gov’s truthfulness about the war • 1967: General Westmoreland “enemy was on the brink of defeat” • Media painted a different picture • First televised war • Images of deceased and the wounded • Credibility Gap – hard to believe what the Johnson admin. said about the war

  3. An Anti-war Movement Emerges • People began to protest the war • Teach-Ins: March 1965 • Staff and students at U of M had a teach-in • Informally discussed the issues • Inspired teach-ins at many schools • By May, 122 colleges held a “National Teach-In” by radio for more than 100,000 antiwar demonstrators

  4. Teach In @ U. of Michigan Reasons for protest: Some saw the conflict as a civil war in which the U.S. had no business Others viewed South Vietnam as a corrupt & immoral dictatorship

  5. Anger at the Draft • Young protestors focused on the unfair draft system • A college student could usually defer military service until after graduation • Low-income families were more likely to be sent to Vietnam • By 1967: Afr. Americans accounted for 20 of combat deaths—2x their proportion of the U.S. pop • MLK speaks out in 1967 against the conflict

  6. Increasing the Draft Call • U.S. officials increased the draft call, putting college students at risk • 500,000 draftees refused to go • Publically burned their draft cards • Did not report when called for induction • Some fled the country to Canada, Sweden, or other nations • Others stayed and went to prison rather than fight

  7. The Draft & Voting Age • 1965-68  Prosecuted over 3,300 Americans for refusing to serve • 1969 Gov’t introduced a lottery system • Low lottery numbers were subject to the draft • April 1965, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organized a march on Washington, D.C. • 20,000 protestors • Anger over the draft fueled debate about the voting age • Old enough to fight, but not vote?? • 1971: 26th Amendment • Changed age to 18

  8. Hawks & Doves • Growing opposition, but Johnson remained determined • But the majority opinion  68% favored continuing the war • 1968: Nation divided • Doves: Wanted to withdraw from Vietnam • Hawks: Wanted to stay and fight

  9. Hawks v. Doves Activity • With your group, carefully read each excerpt to determine whether the speaker supports (“Hawk”) or does not support (“Dove”) increased U.S. military involvement in Vietnam. • On the appropriate side of your T-chart, write the number of the excerpt and a short summary in your own words of the argument(s) the speaker uses to support his position.

  10. Summary • Your group will use this information to help form a recommendation on this question: • Should the president significantly increase U.S. military involvement in Vietnam? • 6-8 sentences answering the question, support your answer!!! • Include and disprove a counter argument, to help support your claim. (What would the other viewpoint say in response?? Explain why that’s less important)

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