American's Feelings Towards the War
By: Gabby D.
Even though the Vietnam War did not take place on U.S soil, American citizens took the war personally and in their own hands. The nation became divided between war protesters, who adopted the name of "doves", and supporters of the war called "hawks". Doves were opposed to the war because they felt as if the United States’ military did not have a right or the responsibility to try to intervene in the war because it was more of a civil war. Others believed that the oppressive South Vietnamese regime was no better than the communist regime it was fighting, and most people just simply felt that the war was unjust. They were against of the oppression of the Vietnamese citizens and felt sympathy for them having to go through a war in their homeland.
In hopes of converting the United States’ government's position in the war, doves held numerous protests throughout the country. Some of the most common groups who participated in the different movements were: students and educators, women, minorities, anti-establishment hippies, lawyers, physicians, and military veterans. As the different groups joined, they became united as one and the government realized that their strength.
One of the biggest voices was the youth. By the mid-sixties, many youth believed that the nation needed a fundamental change. A youth-dominated political movement called New Left began to create anti-establishment organizations like Students for a Democratic Society and Free Speech Movement. The ideas and goals of these organizations quickly spread to many college campuses and informed more students about the reality of the war and how to get involve. From there, the students shocked by the actions of the U.S government, joined together and protested.
In hopes of converting the United States’ government's position in the war, doves held numerous protests throughout the country. Some of the most common groups who participated in the different movements were: students and educators, women, minorities, anti-establishment hippies, lawyers, physicians, and military veterans. As the different groups joined, they became united as one and the government realized that their strength.
One of the biggest voices was the youth. By the mid-sixties, many youth believed that the nation needed a fundamental change. A youth-dominated political movement called New Left began to create anti-establishment organizations like Students for a Democratic Society and Free Speech Movement. The ideas and goals of these organizations quickly spread to many college campuses and informed more students about the reality of the war and how to get involve. From there, the students shocked by the actions of the U.S government, joined together and protested.