PROTEST AND REBELLION

THE VIETNAM WAR

Where is Vietnam?

Why are we Here?Sides of Vietnam

• Country divided at the 17th Parallel line

• North Vietnam = Communist, led by Ho Chi Minh (VIETCONG)

• North supplied by China and Russia

• South Vietnam = Democratic

• South backed by USA

What is the U.S. Role in Vietnam?What is the U.S. Role in Vietnam?

CONTAINMENTCONTAINMENT – – Keep Keep Communism from Communism from expanding (by George expanding (by George Keenan)Keenan)

• Imperialism = foreign Imperialism = foreign control (colonization)control (colonization)

• Saigon = Capital of South Saigon = Capital of South VietnamVietnam

In the US GovernmentIn the US Government

HawksHawks = = wanted war (get involved)wanted war (get involved)

DovesDoves = = wanted peace (stay out)wanted peace (stay out)

The Vietnam War: Why Protest?

Is this your neighbor?Is this your neighbor?

Who are we fighting?Who are we fighting?

• Civilians lie dead and a South Vietnamese soldier still sits in Civilians lie dead and a South Vietnamese soldier still sits in his jeep after being shot in the head by a team of hit-and-run his jeep after being shot in the head by a team of hit-and-run Vietcong in 1968. Vietnamese children are running past and Vietcong in 1968. Vietnamese children are running past and looking at the charred and dismembered bodies.looking at the charred and dismembered bodies.

Why is he doing this?Why is he doing this?

• Passers-by stop to Passers-by stop to watch as flames watch as flames envelope a young envelope a young Buddhist monk, Buddhist monk, Saigon, October Saigon, October 5th, 1963.5th, 1963.

War on TV

• First war where Journalists had free access to war zone

• USA sees war horror on TV every day with dinner

• Propels anti-war sentiment

Is protest worth your own life?Is protest worth your own life?

SDS – Students for SDS – Students for Democratic Democratic SocietySociety

• Organized on Organized on College campusesCollege campuses

• SNCC – Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee

• Civil rights group protested war

War Protests

• War very unpopular in USA

• Protests explode on College campuses across USA

• May 4, 1970 - Kent State shootings

• 4 students shot dead by National Guard troops among protesters

DC Under Siege

• President’s Johnson & Nixon faced daily pressure

• "Hey, hey LBJ, how many kids have you killed today?"

• "One, two, three, four! We don't want your f***ing war!"

Why would people support the Why would people support the War?War?

• Patriotic Duty

• Support Troops in war

• Fear of Communist Expansion– COMMUNISM – (Soc. / Econ. System) – Goods

held in common by Gov’t, no free market

• Stop Dictator (Gov’t Abuses towards people)

How far is too far?How far is too far?

Why was he involved?Why was he involved?

• Not understand GOALS• No business in Vietnam• Unfair Draft (Poor minorities could not

afford to get out of the draft)• War Violence on TV daily

• Same men fighting for USA not have basic Civil Rights

• Civil Rights Movement & Anti – War movement usually side by side

Vietnam Memorials in DC

Under what Under what circumstances is protest circumstances is protest or rebellion against the or rebellion against the government acceptable?government acceptable?