Student Unrest and the Vietnam War

Prior to Vietnam, most of the American population held their Congressmen, their universities, and other official institutions in high regard. During the 1960s, these views began to change. Two basic viewpoints began to evolve during this time. One group felt that though intentions had been good for getting into the conflict, it was a losing battle that carried too great of burden both socially and economically and at the United States needed to get out of Vietnam. The other group felt that we had gone to Vietnam for a purpose and we shouldn't leave until the job was done. Most of the large demonstrations to protest the war took place on college campuses. During the Vietnam War, the draft was instituted for the first time since 1942. This meant that men and women of the Baby Boom era were eligible to be sent off to fight in a conflict that was being questioned for the American involvement. Draft deferments and exemptions were available for college students and this meant that young men in the working class who did not go to college because they could not afford it far outnumbered those of the middle or upper class. Students who avoided the war by going to college were aware of the injustice of the situation and used protests as a way of communicating this to the powers-that-be. In addition, once the students graduated, they would then be eligible to be sent off to Vietnam. This gave them added incentive to protest and try to put a stop to the war before they could be drafted. Over 2 million Americans fought in the Vietnam War and over 58,000 died. As the war dragged on and the financial costs grew, the resentment grew also. The student protests mirrored the feelings of many Americans and the lack of public support made the situation worse.

The Vietnam War was both a political and a military loss for the United States. President Johnson continued to pour money into the conflict without sufficient means to cover the expenditures. In addition, Johnson initiated a number of domestic programs that were known as the Great Society, but did not increase taxes to cover these programs as well. The result was inflation and a drastic increase in the federal deficit. The economy of the United States began to slump. As the war continued, Americans became disenchanted with their political leaders and their government. They became more aware of the dishonesty of these leaders and began to distrust the government and view every thing the government did with suspicion.

President Nixon's Watergate scandal that led to his resignation and President Ford's appointment as Commander in Chief only fortified the public's distrust of the government and government actions. In an effort to prevent a future conflict similar to Vietnam, Congress passed War Powers Act that Nixon had vetoed that stated that the President had to inform Congress if he was going to send troops into possible combat situations. Also, Congress would have to take some sort of official action regarding those troops within 60 days. President Ford faced a very tough situation that was made worse by decisions such as pardoning former President Nixon and providing clemency for men who had dodged the draft. This last act was a slap in the face to men who had fought, were wounded, and died in Vietnam. Soldiers who returned from Vietnam faced a society that did not support their presence in Southeast Asia. Though many men were drafted and did not have a choice about whether to serve their country or not, they were still treated with disrespect and spite when they came home. The specter of the Vietnam War still raises its head 40 years since the beginning of American involvement. When the United States entered the conflict with Iraq, American men and women were being killed and little progress was being seen, many Americans wondered if Iraq would be another Vietnam. When Vietnam vets began getting sick and dying following their service, and Agent Orange was discovered to be the potential cause of the illness and death, distrust grew toward the government and is leaders. Echoes of what happened during the years of the Vietnam War still resound today, but perhaps that is a good thing. It taught the American people to question the actions of its leaders and lend a voice to those who are in need. The way the soldiers returning from the war were treated was horrible, and we can only hope that we learn from our mistakes.

A Time for War: The United States and Vietnam, 1941-1975

By Robert D. Schulzinger

Published by Oxford University Press US, 1999

http://scholar.library.miami.edu/sixties/studentUnrest.php

http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/vietnam/postwar.htm