The US Reaction to the Vietnam War (AQA GCSE History): Revision Note

Summary

At first, the decision to send combat troops into Vietnam was very popular with the American people. However, as the war continued into the 1960s, it became increasingly unpopular, especially with the younger generations. 

The Americans who became adults during the 1960s had been born in the post-World War II baby boom. Many “baby boomers”’ rejected their parents’ views on music, fashion, culture and especially the Vietnam War. They also resented the fact that it was their generation that was being conscripted — or drafted — to join the army to go to fight and die in Vietnam. 

The result was large-scale protests on university campuses by college students all across the US. Older generations saw the protests and refusal to fight as a betrayal of the US.

The US became divided both culturally and politically over the war in Vietnam. 

Opposition to the draft

• The draft was the name given to the process of 18 to 26-year-olds being called up or conscripted to join the US armed forces

  • Punishments for refusing to join included large fines and imprisonment

  • Wealthy Americans were able to get deferments (delays) due to attending college or medical exemptions from doctors who were family friends

  • This meant a disproportionate number of Americans who were drafted were poor and/or Black 

• Some people fled abroad, and around 30,000 people moved to Canada to avoid the draft

  • Others stayed but refused to join up

  • They often publicly burned their draft cards in protest and became known as draft dodgers

• The most famous draft dodger was the reigning heavyweight boxing champion of the world, Muhammad Ali

  • He refused to fight for political reasons and was sentenced to prison as a punishment

  • This was overturned on appeal, but he was banned from boxing for three years and lost his world title

Students for a democratic society

• College students became one of the main sources of opposition to the war in Vietnam 

  • Their protests were organised and coordinated by groups such as Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)

  • Throughout the 1960s, demonstrations took place on college campuses all across America, and many were “occupied” by protesting students

  • In October 1969, they organised a massive nationwide demonstration called the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam

  • This was followed by another even larger demonstration in November 1969 that involved around 500,000 people marching in Washington D.C.

Culture and the Vietnam War

• At the end of World War II, a combination of thousands of US soldiers returning home and a sense of optimism led to a huge increase in the birth rate

  • The children of this “baby boom” generation became adults in the 1960s

  • Many “baby boomers” rejected their parents’ values and views of the world

• The “baby boom” generation’s music, fashion and art was very different from that of their parents

  • Artists such as Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and Neil Young captured the mood of their generation with songs that had anti-war messages

  • Many rejected capitalism and material goods , grew their hair long and took drugs

  • They became known as hippies 

    • Their appearance and beliefs greatly angered many older Americans

• More than ever before, American society was split along generational lines

  • It seemed as if most of the older generation were in favour of the war in Vietnam and preserving the American way of life, whereas most of the younger generation were against the war and rejected their parents’ way of life