Reasons For Growth Of Opposition Flashcards
What did MLK do in 1967?
Stopped criticising the war privately and instead marched and spoke at anti-war protests
What did Norman Morrison do in November 1965?
Burnt himself to death outside the Pentagon, reflecting what happened with Buddhist monks
What did Wayne Morse do?
Gave the only speech in Senate against Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
What did Vietnam Veterans do in 1967?
Handed in medals and spoke at demonstrations and meetings
How was public opinion measured?
Opinion polls - run regularly - politicians tended to react when an issue affects their votes, making politician views a good measure of public opinion
What were other ways to get public opinion?
Looking at the size and who took part in demonstrations
Why did opposition to war grow?
. As more troops went into Vietnam
. Short terme events in Vietnam and long term events e.g, rising death toll
How was cost of war paid?
Using US taxes, disliked
What did Black Panthers and Mohammad Ali do?
Opposed fighting for a country that was racist to them
Why did the student movement come about?
Large growth in students to 8.5 million in 1970
What movement did many stdents become part of?
‘Counter-culture’ movement - refusing to live by cultural rules in American society). However, many sid stay away and just study
How did the student movement protest?
Sit-ins, boycotts, strikes from classes, protests
What did Vietnam protesters do to draft cards?
Burned them
What demonstrations became bigger and more violent as 1960s progressed?
Student demonstrations
What did student demonstrations also affect?
Other anti-war demonstrations and became very violent
What did student protests get?
Media attentin
Who were Students for a democratic society (SDS)?
Most significant student group, set up in 1960
How many members did SDS have by 1965?
3000
How did these radical groups (SDS) anger US public?
They supported N. Vietnamese as well as opposing war
What did SDS protestors often chant as war went on?
“Hey, hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?”
What was the draft?
Compulsary service in military forces
How did the draft create more opposition to war?
People thought it was unfair
What was the problem with draftees?
Too young and poorly trained
Who were least able to avoid the draft?
Poor families
What did the draft become in 1969?
A lottery system - mixed up ages and made the draft fairer
How many of the 2.6 million who served in the Vietnam war were draftees?
650,000
What were ways to avoid the draft?
. College students could delay till graduation
. Some workers in government/farming industry were exempt
. The only son of a family was exempt
. Physically and mentally unfit were exempt
. 40-50,000 left US illegally or went into hiding in USA
Anti-war activists set up clinics. What are clinics?
‘Clinics’ gave advice on how to avoid the draft
Showed people how to apply for exemption as a CO (conscientious objectors often had to do other war work)
How many young men avoided the draft and who influenced this?
15 million, anti-war activists influenced this
How was the Vietnam War revolutionary for the media?
First war on TV
Reporters could travel with troops and uncensor information
What anti-war protest did media show?
Washington protest in October 1967 that had 100,000 strong
How did media influence public?
Showed uncomfortable detail and made public lose trust with government as it seemed they were hiding something, such as when they made the Tet look like a win
What did CBS news reveal about the Tet offensive?
Reporter Walter Cronkite said it was a stalemate at best, and the war looked unwinnable. Many Americans believed Cronkite instead of the government
