The Vietnam War & the anti-war movement

Protests and anger in the United States

Good Arguments for and Against…WHY FIGHT IN VIETNAM?

To prevent the spread of communism. Once one country became controlled by a communist government, other countries would fall also. This is called the “domino theory.”

WHY NOT FIGHT IN VIETNAM? We should stay out of

other countries’ business.

US had no clear strategy to win the war and exit Vietnam.

Who was against the Vietnam war?

The Vietnam war protests began with college students, and is called the “anti-war movement.”

The anti-war movement is what began “hippies.”

To protest the war, and other problems they saw in the United States, many teen-agers and college age students joined the hippie movement.

They wanted:* a world full of peace, *civil rights *good music.

They abused drugs and alcohol as part of their rebellion.

The biggest message of the “hippie culture” is peace and love!

Why were these hippies & students against the war?

In the early years of the war, most were “anti-war” because of the draft. They believed that the draft unfairly targeted minority men.

Other reasons why people protested the Vietnam war…

Many believed the Americans should stay out of the war because it was a political conflict that did not involve the United States.

As United States’ causalities grew (more and more soldiers dying), people other than college students and hippies joined the anti-war movement, even soldiers like this one wanted peace.

How did they protest the Vietnam war?

Demonstrations:

Many rallies and demonstrations were held all over the country, on college campuses and in large public places. They were usually peaceful gatherings.

How did they protest the Vietnam war?

Burning Draft Cards:

To protest the draft many men burned their draft cards in public places. This was a symbolic way to say “NO WAY!” to the draft.

How did they protest the Vietnam war?

Some people chose to simply wear anti-war buttons.

Anti-war slogans became popularPopular slogans…

"Draft beer, not boys“

"Hell no, we won't go“ "Bring our boys home“

"Eighteen today, dead tomorrow”

were a few of the anti-war slogans.

HOW ELSE DID HIPPIES EXPRESS THEIR ANTI-WAR MESSAGE?

Hippies used MUSIC to express messages of peace and anti-war!

FAMOUS ANTI-WAR/PEACE SONGS WERE WRITTEN BY THE BEATLES, JOHN LENNON, SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE, BOB MARLEY AND OTHER FAMOUS MUSICIANS…

This is John Lennon; he was one of the most famous peace activists.

Now it’s your turn to listen to some music…

Lyrics for the songs…IMAGINEJOHN LENNON Imagine there's no heaven

It's easy if you tryNo hell below usAbove us only skyImagine all the peopleLiving for today...

Imagine there's no countriesIt isn't hard to doNothing to kill or die forAnd no religion tooImagine all the peopleLiving life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamerBut I'm not the only oneI hope someday you'll join usAnd the world will be as one

Imagine no possessionsI wonder if you canNo need for greed or hungerA brotherhood of manImagine all the peopleSharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamerBut I'm not the only oneI hope someday you'll join usAnd the world will live as one

FEEL LIKE I’M FIXING TO DIE RAGCOUNTRY JOE & THE FISH Come on all of you big strong men

Uncle Sam needs your help againhe's got himself in a terrible jamway down yonder in Viet Nam soput down your books and pick up a gun we'regonna have a whole lotta fun

(CHORUS)And it's one, two, three, what are we fighting fordon't ask me I don't give a damn, next stop is Viet NamAnd it's five, six, seven, open up the pearly gatesain't no time to wonder why, whoopee we're all gonna die

Come on generals, let's move fastyour big chance has come at lastnow you can go out and get those redscos the only good commie is the one that's dead andyou know that peace can only be won when we'veblown 'em all to kingdom come

Come on wall street don't be slowwhy man this war is a go-gothere's plenty good money to be made bysupplying the army with the tools of its tradelet's hope and pray that if they drop the bomb,they drop it on the Viet Cong

Come on mothers throughout the landpack your boys off to Viet Namcome on fathers don't hesitatesend your sons off before it's too lateand you can be the first ones on your blockto have your boy come home in a box

After you listen to your group’s song, answer the following questions…Summarize the message of the

song.What images are most powerful in

the song?

Groups 1,2 3: Apply the song to a scene or character from Fallen Angels.

Groups 4,5 & 6: Apply the song to a current event situation, or some historical event other than the Vietnam war.

Did you understand the lesson?Answer this question in your

notebook in one paragraph…

What was the message of the anti-war movement, and how did they communicate their message?

Homework…

Now that you know both sides of the Vietnam story (arguments for and against the war), design your own poster in support of the war, or against the war.

Your poster should be colorful and interesting. Your feelings about the war should be clear.

Size 8.5 x 11 paper is fine. Use images, slogans (make up your own!)

or other primary resources from the Vietnam war.

Due on MONDAY, APRIL 6.