Support And Opposition

avatar
Created by
a

Cards (7)

  • The Media: TV and news reports were uncensored. Most Americans owned a TV the 1960s . Reports of brutal US tactics shocked them
  • Cost of war: $167 Billion spent. 58,220 Dead. 300000+ wounded/disabled. Increased mistrust of government. Increased drug use and PTSD.
  • Kent State Massacre 1970: 1000 student protest. National Guard shot and killed 4. Media coverage caused public outrage
  • My Lai Massacre 1968: 400 civilians killed. No Vietcong found. Military declared success, 1970 inquiry said it was a cover up. Liutenant Calley convicted. Public outrage said more senior officers were responsible.
  • Student Movement: Many young people rejected older generations values e.g patriotism. Many sympathised or had communist principles. Used non-violent tactics for protest. Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) founded in 1960.
  • The Draft: Compulsory military service for men 18-26. 650,000 were draftees in Vietnam out of 2.4 million. 170,000 avoided due to conscientious objection out of 300,000 that applied. Some moved abroad or protested.
  • Support was because of: fear of communism/Domino Theory. Patriotism. 1969 Nixon's silent majority speech receiving 30,000 support letters. 1970 'hard hat' construction workers in New York who beat up anti-war protesters