Vietnam, The New Left, and Counterculture - Week 14 Flashcards
the vietnam war
1955-1975, a cold war proxy. longest running until afghanistan, battle between communist north and westernized south
how did the usa violate the geneva accords?
sponsored a pro-usa gov’t in vietnam, but vietnam was supposed to have free and fair elections after their freedom from france in 1954, sans-interference
gulf of tonkin incident (august 1964)
alleged unprovoked attack on a USA vessel by the North Vietnamese. turns out it never even happened
gulf of tonkin resolution (august 1964)
expanded presidential power to take all necessary measures to repel armed attack. only two people in Congress objected, but it was repealed in 1971.
chemical warfare
agent orange and napalm. meant to clear out the trees so guerrilla warfare could be stopped, has long-term environmental and health impacts in combat zones.
the tet offensive (january 1968)
surprise attack by the Viet Cong during the New Year. proved to the American public that there was no end in sight, created skepticism
Vietnam and the Media
Vietnam was the first ‘television war’ and it moved antiwar to the mainstream. a majority of Americans disapproved the handling of Vietnam
the antiwar movement
MLK, protest songs, mostly headed by young people and college students
students for a democratic society (SDS)
Tom Hayden and Al Habel established SDS at the University of Michigan in 1961, part of the New Left. held antiwar rallies in DC in April and November of 1965
port huron statement (1962)
SDS’s manifesto that criticized American institutions and called for participative democracy
Kent State Shooting (may 4, 1970)
largely working class student body, protest triggered by invasion in cambodia. ohio’s nat’l guard was deployed. killed 4 unarmed activists, permanently disabled another, and wounded 9
Jackson State Shooting (may 15, 1970)
students outraged by kent state, cambodia, and disproportionate black drafting. police fired into a residence hall and killed 2 students, wounding 12. one of the students killed wasn’t even a student at Jackson State.
