Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War

Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War

Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War grew a lot starting in 1965. Many people in the United States began showing against the country’s bigger role in the war. Over the next few years, these shows turned into a social movement that was part of the bigger counterculture of the 1960s.

At first, the peace movement had many students, mothers, and anti-establishment young people. As time passed, leaders and activists from the civil rights, feminist, and Chicano movements joined in. Workers, teachers, religious leaders, writers, doctors, and even veterans of the military also took part.

Most of the anti-war protests were peaceful and nonviolent. By 1967, more and more Americans felt that the military’s involvement in Vietnam was wrong. Even years later, many important leaders thought it had been a mistake.

Background

In 1965, the United States sent more troops to Vietnam. This made many people protest against the war. People felt the draft, which decided who had to go to war, was unfair. It often affected poorer people more.

Many people opposed the war because they thought it was wrong for the United States to be involved in Vietnam. As television showed images of the war, more people saw the suffering and began to question the war. This created a big divide in opinions, with some people strongly supporting the war and others strongly opposing it.

History

Early protests

Early protests against the war were small. On May 2, 1964, fewer than eighty people marched near Harvard University.

The first big protest happened in Washington, D.C., on April 17, 1965, organized by Students for a Democratic Society. Over 20,000 people joined.

Protests also focused on the draft. Students at the University of California, Berkeley marched and burned draft cards to show they thought the war was wrong.

Government reactions

Presidents during this time included John Kennedy, Lyndon B Johnson, and later Richard Nixon. Johnson believed in supporting the government of South Vietnam. But as more people protested, the government grew worried.

Big protests happened, like one in 1967 where thousands gathered at the US Pentagon. Some even tried to get inside. Police made many arrests, and a few people got hurt.

Shifting opinion

In 1967, a well-known writer named Noam Chomsky said that many smart people were helping the government justify the war. Magazines like Time and Life began to question the war too.

Draft protests

The draft often picked more Black men and poor people. In 1967, many people turned in their draft cards to protest. By 1970, a lottery system was created to decide who would be called.

Developments in the war

In 1968, a big attack called the Tet Offensive shocked many in the United States. Even though US forces won battles, images on TV changed many people's minds about the war.

1968 presidential election

In 1968, President Johnson tried to be re-elected but faced strong opposition. He decided to leave the race and started peace talks. Other leaders also joined the race with different views on the war.

Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam

In October 1969, huge protests happened across the United States. Millions of people took part.

Hearts and Minds campaign

The US tried to win the support of Vietnamese people by building schools and helping communities. But other actions during the war often made things worse.

Increasing polarization

While many supported the war, others opposed it for many reasons. Some who had fought in the war themselves also spoke out against it.

Later protests

In 1971, veterans of the war protested by throwing away their medals in front of the US Capitol. Some protests became divisive when people showed support for the other side or clashed with police.

Opposition groups

As the Vietnam War went on, more people began to oppose it, and many different groups joined together to speak out against it.

African Americans

African-American leaders who had spoken out against unfair treatment also spoke against the war. Famous people like Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali shared their views, and later Martin Luther King Jr. and others joined in. Many African Americans felt the war was unfair because it took young men from poor families while others avoided service. They formed their own groups to make their voices heard.

Artists

Many artists used their work to show they were against the war. Writers, poets, painters, and filmmakers created pieces about their feelings on the conflict. Music also helped spread the message, with songs about peace and protest becoming popular.

Asian-Americans

Many Asian Americans opposed the war because they felt it targeted people who looked like them. Groups formed to organize protests and raise awareness about the war’s impact on Asian communities. They talked about issues of racism and unfair treatment linked to the war.

Clergy

Religious leaders also spoke out against the war. Martin Luther King Jr. gave a famous speech calling for an end to the conflict. Clergy members from different faiths joined together to voice their concerns and support peace efforts.

Draft evasion

Some young men chose not to join the military when their names were called. Others left the country to avoid service. Many questioned the fairness of the draft, feeling it targeted poorer families more than wealthy ones.

Environmentalists

The use of harmful chemicals in the war worried many people who cared about the environment. Books and speeches raised awareness about how the war damaged nature, leading to a movement focused on protecting the Earth.

Mexican-Americans

Mexican-Americans were strongly affected by the war because many were sent to fight. A large protest in Los Angeles showed their opposition, bringing together people from different backgrounds to stand against the conflict.

Musicians and songs

Musicians wrote and performed songs that opposed the war. Artists like Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan created music that became symbols for the movement. Their songs helped spread the message of peace and protest.

Military members and veterans

Even some soldiers and veterans began to speak out against the war. They organized within the military to resist unfair orders and treatment, showing their disagreement with the conflict.

Students

Students on college campuses were very active in protesting the war. They organized events, occupied buildings, and demanded change. The movement grew as more students joined, showing their dislike of the war and its impact on their lives.

Women

Women played a big role in the anti-war movement, even though they sometimes faced unfair treatment in the groups. They formed their own organizations to fight for peace and equality. These groups offered advice to young men on how to avoid the draft and held regular protests for peace.

Trade Unionists

While some large labor groups supported the war, many smaller unions protested strongly. Workers joined forces with students and other groups to organize large demonstrations against the conflict, showing their belief in peace and fairness.

Political responses

See also: List of Congressional opponents of the Vietnam War

United Nations intervention

In October 1967, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee talked about asking President Johnson to call a special meeting of the United Nations. They wanted to discuss ways to end the war.

Dellums (war crimes hearings)

In January 1971, Congressman Ron Dellums showed pictures in his office of things that happened in Vietnam. He then held four days of meetings to talk about these things. Dellums wanted official investigations, but Congress did not support these meetings. So the meetings were informal and only shared information. No press or cameras were allowed, but the talks were recorded.

Dellums had 19 other Congressional representatives join these meetings. They were: Bella Abzug, Shirley Chisholm, Patsy Mink, Parren Mitchell, John Conyers, Herman Badillo, James Abourezk, Leo Ryan, Phil Burton, Don Edwards, Pete McCloskey, Ed Koch, John Seiberling, Henry Reuss, Benjamin Stanley Rosenthal, Robert Kastenmeier, and Abner J. Mikva.

The records from these meetings talked about claims of how US soldiers acted in Vietnam. Some actions were described as very harsh. Witnesses said that while soldiers were taught to follow the rules, some were also taught by other soldiers to act in ways that were not right. The meetings talked about claims of soldiers exaggerating how many people they killed and other bad actions.

Fulbright (end to war)

Main article: Fulbright Hearing

In April and May 1971, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led by Senator J. William Fulbright, held 22 meetings to talk about ways to end the war. On April 22, 1971, future Senator and 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry spoke before Congress against the war. He spoke for Vietnam Veterans Against the War, asking for US forces to leave Vietnam right away. During his talk, Kerry shared details from the Winter Soldier Investigation, where veterans talked about things they did or saw that were very wrong during the war.

Public opinion

As the Vietnam War continued, fewer Americans supported it. In 1965, only 24% of people thought sending troops to Vietnam was a mistake. By 1968, more than half—54%—felt it was a mistake.

At first, not many people wanted to join protests about the war. But later, some wished they had done more to show their disagreement. One big reason people became unhappy was the number of soldiers who were lost during the war. Many people were sad about the young men who were lost.

As time passed, most people began to think the war would never end. By the late 1960s, many felt the war was not helping their families or jobs. Looking back in the 1990s, about half of adults approved of the protests against the war, while the other half did not.

Further information: Public opinion of militaries

General effects

The opposition to the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War had many effects, which helped end the country's role in the conflict. This opposition created the largest anti-war movement the nation had ever seen and was important in bringing the war to an end.

One major effect was that fewer soldiers were available for the army. Many people protested the draft and ROTC programs in colleges. For example, students wrote letters refusing to join the military, and many did not show up for induction. This led to a big drop in the number of students enrolled in ROTC programs.

Another effect was that many college campuses shut down because of protests. Students and even some teachers showed their disagreement with the war through demonstrations. These protests caused trouble for the government, which tried to bring things back to normal.

Finally, the opposition also lowered the morale of soldiers in Vietnam. Some soldiers began to question the war, which added to the growing sense of opposition in the United States.

Timeline

Further information: Lists of protests against the Vietnam War

1964

• May 12 – twelve young men in New York burned their draft cards to protest the war.
• August – Prompted by the Gulf of Tonkin incident, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
• December – Joan Baez led a large group of people in an anti-war demonstration in San Francisco.

1965

• March 24 – A protest was held at the University of Michigan by people against the war. Over two thousand people joined.
• March 16 – An 82-year-old woman, Alice Herz, set herself on fire to protest the Vietnam War.
• April 17 – Groups led marches in Washington, D.C., with thousands of people.
• May – A poll showed some people felt the government was handling the war well, while others did not.
• May – The first anti-war protest happened in London.
• June – Protests were held near the Pentagon.
• August – Some activists tried to stop trains carrying soldiers.
• Late August – A poll showed some Americans thought sending troops was a mistake.
• Mid-October – Large protests happened in many cities around the world.
• October 15 – About forty people sat at a draft board in Ann Arbor, Michigan and were punished.
• November 2 – A man named Norman Morrison set himself on fire near the Pentagon.
• November 27 – A big rally happened in Washington, D.C. with many famous people speaking.

1966

• February – Some veterans tried to return their awards to the White House but were not allowed.
• March 26 – Demonstrations happened around the world.
• April – A poll showed most people did not think sending troops was a mistake.
• May 15 – A big protest happened outside the White House and the Washington Monument.
• June – A poll showed fewer people supported how the US was handling the war.
• July 3 – A protest happened in London and some people were arrested.
• Joan Baez organized a protest where people refused to pay some taxes.
• Protests happened at schools across the country. Some soldiers refused to go to Vietnam and were punished.
• A famous boxer, Muhammad Ali, refused to go to war and was punished.
• June 1966 – Students in England formed a group to protest the war.

1967

• January 14 – Thousands of people gathered in San Francisco for a special event.
• February 8 – A group called Another Mother for Peace was created.
• February – A peaceful march happened but turned difficult.
• February 8 – Christian groups fasted for peace.
• February 23 – An important article about war was published.
• March 12 – Teachers and professors signed an ad against the war.
• March 17 – People marched to the Pentagon to protest.
• March 25 – A leader of the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr., led a march in Chicago.
• April 4 – Martin Luther King Jr. spoke in New York City about the war.
• April 15 – A very large protest happened in New York City with many famous people.
• April 24 – Protesters caused trouble at the New York Stock Exchange.
• May 2 – A mock trial happened in Sweden saying the US did wrong things in Vietnam.
• May 22 – A store in Belgium burned down with many people inside.
• May 30 – People attended a peace protest in Washington, D.C.
• June 1 – A group called Vietnam Veterans Against the War started.
• Summer – Some students protested an astronaut in South America.
• June 23 – President Johnson faced a big protest in Los Angeles.
• July 30 – A poll showed many people did not like how Johnson handled the war.
• August 28 – A US Representative spoke in Congress wanting to bring soldiers home.
• September 20 – A protest happened at the White House and some people were treated badly by police.
• October – Events happened where people returned their draft cards.
• October 18 – Students tried to stop a company from having a job fair at their school.
• October 21 – A big protest happened at the Pentagon with many arrests.

1968

• January 15 – A protest happened in D.C. with only women.
• January 18 – A famous singer spoke her mind about the war to someone in the White House.
• January 30– The Tet Offensive happened and changed many opinions.
• February – A poll showed many people did not like how Johnson handled the war.
• March 12 – A candidate got more votes than expected in an important vote.
• March 16 – Another man wanted to be President and spoke against the war but was later killed.
• March 17 – A big protest in London turned into trouble.
• March – A poll showed many thought the war was a mistake.
• April 17 – Media showed a protest that turned bad at a university.
• April 26 – Many students did not go to school to show they were against the war.
• April 27 – A protest in Chicago turned bad.
• May 17 – Activists burned papers at a university.
• July – A singer released a strong anti-war song.
• August 26–29 – Big protests happened during a meeting in Chicago and turned bad.
• August – A poll showed many thought sending troops was a mistake.
• 1968 – A group of scholars was created.

1969

• March – Polls showed different thoughts on how to end the war.
• March – Students destroyed a building at their school.
• March 5 – A Senator could not speak at an event because of protesters.
• April 6 – A protest happened in a park and was recorded.
• May 22 – Canada said it would not ask about a person’s military status when they came to live there.
• July 16 – An activist was arrested for not going to war and went to jail.
• July 31 – A poll showed many approved of how the new President handled the war.
• August 15–18 – A big music festival happened with peace as a theme.
• October 15 – Big protests happened across the country against the new President.
• October – A poll showed many thought entering the war was a mistake.
• November – Some people bombed buildings around New York City.
• November 15 – Very large protests happened in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco.
• December 7 – A group performed a song on a TV show.
• Late December – A poster was published showing strong feelings about the war.
• By end of the year – Many students thought the war was wrong.

1970

• March 4 – A student was killed while watching protests at their university.
• March 14 – Some sailors took over a ship carrying bombs for the war.
• April 24 – An activist tried to harm an important person in New York City.
• May 4 – After a sad event at a school, many people protested in Washington, D.C.
• May 1–8 – Many schools closed because of big protests.
• May – A poll showed many thought sending troops was a mistake.
• June 13 – The President created a group to study problems at schools.
• July 1970 – A TV show broadcast a documentary about soldiers.
• August 24 – A bomb went off at a university and hurt people.
• August 28 – September 3 – A big music festival happened to avoid trouble from protests.
• August 29 – A big protest happened in Los Angeles but turned bad and some people were hurt or killed.

1971

• April 23 – Veterans threw away many medals at a building in Washington, D.C.
• May 5 – Many people were arrested at a protest at a big building.
• August 1971 – A group broke into an office to take papers.
• December 26 – Veterans tried to take over a famous statue but left after an order. Later, they tried to take over a memorial and were arrested.

1972

• March 29 – People were arrested for surrounding a building to protest a trial.
• April 19 – Students broke into buildings at schools to protest.
• May 13 – More protests happened because of the President’s actions.
• July 6 – Some women stopped during a tour and prayed to protest the war.

Organizations

Many groups formed to oppose the United States' role in the Vietnam War. These included students, writers, and people from different communities. Some groups focused on peaceful protests, while others worked to support soldiers who were against the war.

Notable organizations were Americans for Democratic Action, American Writers Against the Vietnam War, and Students for Democratic Society. There were also groups like the League of Women Voters, which called for ending the war early on, and Vietnam Veterans Against the War, made up of soldiers who spoke out against the conflict.

Slogans and chants

People who did not want the United States to be involved in the Vietnam War used many different phrases and chants to show what they felt. Some popular ones were "Hell, no, we won't go!" and "Bring the troops home now!".

Students at UCLA and other colleges protested against the Dow Chemical Company by saying "Dow shall not kill" and "Making money burning babies!" This was because the company made harmful chemicals like napalm and Agent Orange.

Other slogans talked about helping people instead of fighting. "Stop the war, feed the poor" was used to say that money should help struggling Americans. "War is not healthy for children and other living things" became a well-known phrase on posters.