Caitlin Wilson

Professor Scott
American History 1020
18 Nov. 2014
Peace of War
The Vietnam War was a difficult, yet a very intriguing, time in our United States history.
With an American military made-up of volunteers and drafted men, it was hard for people back
home in America not to constantly talk about the war. Although the war was a major topic, it was
very controversial. There were some groups of people, especially college students, who were
against Americas involvement in the war from the very beginning, but in 1965, the Anti-War
Movement gained some momentum1.
In February 1965, when America started regularly bombing North Vietnam, groups of
anti-war organizations began expressing their concerns with the war. College students would
hold meetings on campuses where a few thousand students would attend, expressing their views
on the war. They didnt make a huge impact on the nations opinions of the war right away, but
once these anti-war organizations started heavily protesting, especially in 1967, they started to
make a major impact2.
Over 400,000 American troops were serving in Vietnam by 1967, and family and citizens
still in America, were not in the slightest bit happy. The number of anti-war riots and protests
were increasing, and so were the amount of people participating. One of the most well-known
protests took place in Washington D.C. at the Lincoln Memorial, where about one-hundred
thousand people were gathered in protest of the Vietnam War3. The protest was even portrayed in
the movie, Forrest Gump, where Forrest spoke to thousands of very passionate anti-war
groups. Although Forrest Gump was a fictional character, most of the events that took place in
1. "Vietnam War Protests." History. History Channel. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
2-3. Barringer, Mark. "The Anti-War Movement in the United States." Modern American
Poetry. University of Illinois, 1 Jan. 1999. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
4. Elrod, Nic and Hepburn, Jimmy. Anti-Vietnam War Movement. Film.
5. "The Antiwar Movement." U.S. History Online Textbook. U.s.History.org. Web. 18 Nov.
2014.
6. "The Vietnam War." The History Place. 1 Jan. 1999. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
7. Years of Withdrawal. U.S. History Online Textbook. U.s.History.org. Web. 18 Nov.
2014.

the movie were very real; especially the event at the Lincoln Memorial. However, the events that
occurred after the protest were not included in the movie. After the protest at the Lincoln
Memorial, about one-third of the 100,000 people that protested the war marched to the
pentagon4. Although their intentions were to march peacefully, they had a run-in with soldiers
and police who were guarding the Pentagon. The night ended in blood, and hundreds of arrests.
This protest made headlines, and sparked the attention of the nation.
Most protests had peaceful and nonviolent intentions, but usually ended in brutal arrests,
and death5. Even with the change of the presidents, from Lyndon B. Johnson to Richard Nixon,
the citizens of United States of America werent in total agreement on their views of the war6.
Musicians came out with songs filled with lyrics about their opposition of the war, and many
people, teens especially, rocked-out to the anti-war music.
When President Nixon started to invade the neutral Cambodia in 1970, the anti-war
groups were as outraged as ever. They started rioting uncontrollably, causing violent protests and
massacres. In 1972, he tried to get North Vietnam to commit to peace by bombing their cities
more than ever before. He failed to do so, and had to withdrawal all the troops from Southeast
Asia in the beginning of 19737.
The Anti-War Movement was much more than the riots and the protests. It was about
their motivation and perseverance that made it the biggest anti-war movement ever in Americas
history. It was what they stood for: peace.

1. "Vietnam War Protests." History. History Channel. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.

2-3. Barringer, Mark. "The Anti-War Movement in the United States." Modern American
Poetry. University of Illinois, 1 Jan. 1999. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
4. Elrod, Nic and Hepburn, Jimmy. Anti-Vietnam War Movement. Film.
5. "The Antiwar Movement." U.S. History Online Textbook. U.s.History.org. Web. 18 Nov.
2014.
6. "The Vietnam War." The History Place. 1 Jan. 1999. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
7. Years of Withdrawal. U.S. History Online Textbook. U.s.History.org. Web. 18 Nov.
2014.

Works Cited
Barringer, Mark. "The Anti-War Movement in the United States." Modern American Poetry.
University of Illinois, 1 Jan. 1999. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
Elrod, Nic and Hepburn, Jimmy. Anti-Vietnam War Movement. Film.
"The Antiwar Movement." U.S. History Online Textbook. U.s.History.org. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
"The Vietnam War." The History Place. 1 Jan. 1999. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
"Vietnam War Protests." History. History Channel. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.

1. "Vietnam War Protests." History. History Channel. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.

2-3. Barringer, Mark. "The Anti-War Movement in the United States." Modern American
Poetry. University of Illinois, 1 Jan. 1999. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
4. Elrod, Nic and Hepburn, Jimmy. Anti-Vietnam War Movement. Film.
5. "The Antiwar Movement." U.S. History Online Textbook. U.s.History.org. Web. 18 Nov.
2014.
6. "The Vietnam War." The History Place. 1 Jan. 1999. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
7. Years of Withdrawal. U.S. History Online Textbook. U.s.History.org. Web. 18 Nov.
2014.