Opposition to the Vietnam War

Who opposed the war in Vietnam?

As the Vietnam War progressed, anti-war sentiment and protests increased, peaking between 1968 and 1970. 700,000 protested against the war in Washington DC, in November 1969.

Why was there opposition to the Vietnam War?

Opposition to the Vietnam War was based around 4 key arguments.

• ❖ Many people objected to the expense of the war, and felt that the money would be better spent on the USA's domestic problems.
• ❖ Civil rights activists felt that many aspects of the war, including the draft system, reflected the racism in American society and placed black people disproportionately at risk.
• ❖ The USA was not winning the war, and the casualties were high. Many Americans felt that the human cost was too high.
• ❖ An increasing number of people believed that the USA's stance in Vietnam was unethical.

Who led the opposition to the Vietnam War?

The protest movement against the Vietnam War was led by civil rights activists and the student movement.

Why did people oppose the expense of the Vietnam War?

There were 3 main reasons why people opposed the cost of the Vietnam War:

• ❖ Overall, the cost of the Vietnam War was $167 billion.
• ❖ Many Americans lived in poverty. Those who opposed the Vietnam War felt that the US should solve its own social problems before interfering, and spending money on a country thousands of miles away.
• ❖ Many Americans believed that the Vietnam War was a result of the 'military-industrial complex', a group of businessmen and military leaders who would benefit from the conflict. President Eisenhower had warned against these groups in 1961.

Why did civil rights activists oppose the Vietnam War?

Civil rights activists pointed out 3 key issues of inequality and racism that were highlighted by the Vietnam War:

• ❖ African Americans were more likely to be have to go to war - 30% were drafted, compared to 19% of white Americans.
• ❖ African Americans were also more likely to be wounded in the fighting. 11% of US troops were black, and yet they made up 22% of the casualties.
• ❖ Some African Americans pointed out that they were expected to fight on behalf of a country that treated them unfairly and with prejudice.

Why did people oppose the human cost of the Vietnam War?

Many anti-war protesters were concerned about the human cost of the war in Vietnam, and the effect of young American men who were forced to fight.

• ❖ Over 58,000 US soldiers were killed in the fighting.
• ❖ Over 303,000 US soldiers were wounded.
• ❖ Many more returned home traumatised by their experiences. The suicide rate amongst men who had fought in Vietnam was twice that of those who had not.
• ❖ The average age of a US soldier was just nineteen, and many had never been in the military before. People felt that the war represented a loss of their innocence.
• ❖ These views were reinforced when veterans returned home and condemned what they had experienced.

Why did people oppose the Vietnam War as unethical?

Over the course of the Vietnam War, people increasingly began to feel that the Vietnam War was wrong for 5 key reasons.

• ❖ The USA's role in failing to support democratic elections in South Vietnam and the Geneva Accords suggested that it was not really concerned with upholding the principles of democracy and choice.
• ❖ Television and newspaper reports showed shocking scenes of devastation and suffering, involving civilians and children.
• ❖ The Tet Offensive in 1968 involved the killing of many civilians as the USA fought back. It also demonstrated that the USA was not even winning the war.
• ❖ The killing of civilians in the My Lai Massacre in 1968 horrified Americans when it was reported a year later.
• ❖ The use of US troops and bombing in Cambodia and Laos in 1970-71 increased these concerns.

Why did politicians oppose the Vietnam War?

As opposition to the war grew, the attitudes of politicians reflected the changing attitudes of their electorate. Congress revoked the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, and set a deadline of December 1971 for the total withdrawal of US troops from Vietnam.

How did students oppose the Vietnam War?

Student groups often led the protests against the Vietnam War in 3 main ways.

• ❖ In the first half of 1968, 40,000 students were involved in protests.
• ❖ Student protesters attracted a lot of media attention because they were often young, white and middle-class.
• ❖ Four students were killed in 1970 when national guardsmen shot at protesters at Kent State University.