THE ANTI-WAR

MOVEMENTBY: MELANIE COLES AND MARYMEGHAN YOUNG

THE BEGINNING

• The anti-war movement began on college campuses.

• Peace Movement leaders opposed the war on moral and economic grounds.

• The draft was another major source of resentment among college students.

• After Congress passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, there were few anti-war demonstrations.

• As the Johnson Administration escalated the commitment, the peace movement grew.

• Television changed many minds of Americans who witnessed body bags being carried away.

THE ANTI-WAR ACTIVISTS

• Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) began organizing “teach-ins”

• A liberal minority was making their voice heard. Included young adults, artists, students and intellectuals.

• Members of the hippie movement, a growing number of young people who rejected authority and embraced the drug culture practiced anti-war demonstrations.

• Members of the organization Vietnam Veterans Against the War began to protest as well.

MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD• On college campuses, professors held "teach-ins“ where

faculty and students would meet to discuss and learn about the War and challenge the government's policies.

• The launch of the Tet Offensive sparked the most intense period of anti-war protests.

• Peaceful demonstrations turned violent. When police officers arrived, the protestors would retaliate.

• Students occupied buildings across college campuses forcing many schools to cancel classes.

• Roads were blocked and ROTC buildings were burned.

• Gatherings of anti-war demonstrators helped bring attention to the public resentment of U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

• In November of 1969, a second march on Washington drew an estimated 500,000 participants.

• There were raids on draft boards and activists smeared blood on records and shredded files.

• There were brutal clashes between the authorities and peace activists.

• Tensions ran higher than ever, spurred on by mass demonstrations and incidents of official violence such as the Kent State Tragedy.

• Peace activists and police clashed at the Democratic National Convention, where anti-war protestors wished to prevent the nomination of a pro-war candidate.