Protest Movement The Vietnam War is most often depicted in movies as a time of great protest in America. Protest on college campuses and vast marches are often what people picture when they begin to contemplate the home front of the Vietnam War. As a result of the baby boomers coming of age during the Vietnam War Era the culture is primed and ready for the protest movement that occurs. The majority of Americans are in their early adult years and the culture shifts to suit their needs and wants. Television shows as well as commercial products are targeted to American’s youth. As a result of this the youth discover that they collectively posses a voice that can move mountains. They can change society and culture if they yell loud enough. This is exactly what happens. This is evident by the protest movements of the era. These movements are organized and seen through by America’s youth. The College campuses were hot beds of protest. College campuses were filled with young adults who were starting to question what the government was doing in the rest of the world as well as in America. On average the press focused on the more politically active universities such as Berkley and NYU. However, almost every college campus at the time became involved in the movement. Now even though most cultural references point to the majority of the youths as a protesting machine this is not always the case. On average students were going to college to better their lives and could care less about protesting. The vast number of movements that one could take part in were often too many to even keep straight. Students were bombarded with causes to pick from: civil rights, women’s rights, anti-Vietnam, sexual revolution, save the environment, etc. One might get dizzy from all the groups that you could support. The American culture of the time allowed for youths of America to take the stage, and as a result America’s culture changed forever.
Primary Source Documents: Pictures:     
Music: “Draft Dodger Rag” Phil Ochs 1965 “Give Peace a Chance” John Lennon and Paul McCarthy “Where have all of the Flowers Gone” Peter Paul and Mary “The times they are a’changing” Bob Dylan “Tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree” Tony Orlando and Dawn “In the year 2525” Zager and Evans “War” Edwinn Starr “If I had a Hammer” Peter Paul and Mary “Lyndon Johnson Told the Nation” Tom Paxton “Who’ll Stop the Rain” Creedence Clearwater Revival “Fortunate Son” Creedence Clearwater Revival “What’s Going On” Marvin Gaye “Ohio” Neil Young “Feel Like I’m Fixing to Die” Country Joe Mcdonald “Birmingham Sunday” Joan Baez “One Tin Solider” The Original Caste
Newspaper Articles: PROFESSORS HOLD VIETNAM PROTEST New York Times (1857-Current file); Mar 25, 1965;ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851-2006)pg. 9.
Vietnam
Survey Finds Campus Protests on Vietnam War Are 'Minute' New York Times (1857-Current file); Oct 29, 1965; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851-2006) pg. 4.
HOLLYWOOD GETS A PROTEST TOWER By PETER BART Special to The New York Times New York Times (1857-Current file); Feb 27, 1966; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851-2006) pg. 38.
Thousands on
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Supporters of the Government On average the supporters of the government were the older generations. The older generation could not relate to the concerns that the younger generation had. There was a true generation gap. The older generation believed that you do what the government says to do and the government will in turn keep you safe and comfortable. The younger generation could not at all relate to this mind set which further divided the two generations. Although many Americans supported the movement almost none took part in it. Most Americans tried to go about their business as usual. It is important to realize that while this group of people did not openly protest they were not members of the pro-war movement. For the most part they wanted nothing to do with the war but were not hugely vocal about it. This group of people more closely follow the values of the members of the movement not this group. At the beginning of the war almost everyone supported the government’s decision to go into war. People seriously feared the spread of communism. They felt that is was something that could be spread like a disease. The domino effect was a legitimate concern for the American people and the American Government. The national security documents even refer to their fearing of the spread of communism within southern Asia. They viewed Vietnam as a crucial domino that could not fall.
Primary Source Documents: Pictures:    President Johnson visiting the troops in Vietnam. http://faculty.smu.edu/dsimon/Change-Viet2.html 
Music: “Ballad of the Green Beret” SSgt Barry Sadler “These Boots are made for Walking” Nancy Sinatra “Battle Hymn of the River Rats” Johnny Cash “Izabella” Jimi Hendrix “Running Through the Jungle” Creedence Clearwater Revival
Newspaper Articles: 50,000 Expected to Parade Here Today to Back Vietnam Policy By DOUGLAS ROBINSON New York Times (1857-Current file); Oct 30, 1965; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851-2006) pg. 2.
U.S. WILL EXPAND VIETNAM FOOD AID By HEDRICK SMITHSpecial to The New York Times New York Times (1857-Current file); Jan 10, 1964; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851-2006) pg. 2.
NIXON MAY SUPPORT WIDER VIETNAM WAR Special to The New York Times New York Times (1857-Current file); Apr 10, 1964; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851-2006) pg. 16.
Vietnam Debate New York Times (1857-Current file); Feb 21, 1965; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851-2006) pg. E1. |
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Resources for the Movement Section in the Classroom Video: Show these films to give a visual representation of the time period. These can be great initiations to the classroom. Vietnam: A Television History (Certain Clips) 1968 with Tom Brokaw (Certain Clips) Document Analysis: National Archives Document Analysis Worksheets. This site houses source analysis worksheets for students to use to analysis primary resources in a variety of forms. The forms include picture, music, movie, and written document analysis to name a few. They can also be downloaded and edited easily to help meet the goals of your individual curriculum. http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/worksheets/
Jigsaw: This is a teaching method that is idea when teaching with a variety of primary sources. By dividing the information among groups you will be able to spread of the mass of materials. Jigsaws also allow students the opportunity to teach one another allowing a stronger grasp. 1. Break up the class into groups of three or four. In those groups give the students all the same document to analyze. (picture, music, newspaper) Have the student analysis and discuss the information to help them understand the movement as a whole. 2. Then have the students switch groups so that they are in a group of all different students and each student has a different document that they examined. On the new group have the students take turned discussing htier individual source. The goal at the end of this second group is for the students to have a working knowledge of all of the primary sources given to the classes. 3. Then the students take part in some form of an assessment. A written document questioning the movement such as a letter to the editor in response to the newspaper. They could create an artistic response to the document in the form of recreating the movement. Design a t-shirt to show the goals of the movement and what they were fighting for. Customize your assessment to fit your teaching style and the goals of your school.
Power point: Use the pictures to create a power point presentation that could help the students to grasp the overall goals of the movement. Be sure to show both sides of the movement to allow student to see that not every American was against the war. You can even include the music listed to allow the students to get a feeling of the musician’s views of the war. Quite often the music of the era represents the public’s beliefs of the era. Heading photo is from http://luckyisthelion.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/vietnam-war-protest.jpg |
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