The anti-Vietnam War movement (4) Flashcards
Where did strong protest against American involvement in Vietnam emerge?
A strong protest movement against American involvement in Vietnam emerged in the 1960s. It started on the campuses of American universities and then spread to other sections of American society, including Vietnam veterans. There were also anti-Vietnam War protests in other countries, as anger mounted against American actions.
At first, opposition to American involvement in Vietnam wea small. But this began to change as ………
….half-a-million troops were sent and the number of casualties began to rise
What did people start to question?
People started to question why America was involved in Vietnam and why it spent so much money on a war which it seemed unable to win.
How were people able to see the devastation that took place in Vietnam?
Through extensive media coverage, people saw the devastation and suffering that the war was causing in Vietnam. Scenes of injured children, terrified villagers, fleeing refugees and wounded American soldiers made a big impact.
Some worried about the negative impact of the war on American ____ with the rest of the world.
relations
What anti-war rally was held in 1965?
In 1965, 25,000 people attended a rally in Washington DC to protest against what they believed was an unjust and unnecessary war.In the next years, thousands more protestors took part in anti-war marches around the country.
In 1969, more than _____ joined a massive anti-war demonstration in the capital.
250,000
Was there opposition to conscription?
Yes, The US government introduced conscription (called the draft) to raise troops to send to Vietnam. Some men burnt their draft cards in protest; others refused to go and fight and became ‘draft dodgers’.
By 1968, between 50,000 and 100,000 draft dodgers had moved to countries like ___, __ , ___, and the ____.
Canada
Sweden
France
Netherlands.
Were there acts of defiance from men who fought in Vietnam?
Yes, There were acts of defiance too from men who had fought in Vietnam. In 1971, over 1,000 Vietnam veterans went to Washington and publicly threw their military medals at the Capitol building, denouncing the war as they did so.
True or false
There were strikes and demonstrations on university campuses all over the country. Some protesters burned the American flag as a sign of their disgust at their country’s policies.
True
When did the most serious anti-war protests occur?
The most serious anti-war protests occurred in 1970 when the new president, Richard Nixon, announced that the USA was extending the war into Cambodia, Vietnam’s neighbor.
What happened at Kent University?
At Kent State University in Ohio, soldiers fired at protesting students, killing four and wounding others. People around America were horrified. Over 400 universities were closed as two million students went on strike. In further protests, more students were killed.
What did Civil Rights leaders such as MLK criticise the government for? (2)
Civil Rights leaders, such as Martin Luther King, criticized the government for:
- Spending money that could have been spent on relieving poverty at home. Billions of dollars were spent on the war, while spending on education, housing and healthcare in the US was cut back.
- They also spoke out against the drafting of large numbers of African Americans.
Anti-war demonstrations were also held in other countries. Opposition to the Vietnam War formed an important part of the widespread student protests that happened in many countries in 1968 - in France, Italy, West Germany, Japan and others. ____ too protested against the war in Vietnam, where thousands of Australian soldiers were sent to fight alongside the Americans. The growing anti-war protest was one of the main reasons why the American government eventually decided to ____ from Vietnam.
Australians
withdraw
