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[Name of the Writer]
[Name of Instructor]
History and Anthropology
[Date]
Week 5
Introduction
The Vietnam war was fought between two countries- North Vietnam and South Vietnam. North Vietnam was backed by USSR and China, while the united states of America, along with Australia, Thailand, and the Philippines, supported South Vietnam. The Vietnam war commenced on November 1st, 1995 and spanned over a period of just under 20 years (McAdam, Doug, and Yang Su, 2002). The Vietnam war saw the death of as many as 2 million civilians (McAdam, Doug, and Yang Su, 2002). Additionally, 1.1 million soldiers from North Vietnam and 250,000 soldiers from South Vietnam also died. Furthermore, the US incurred a huge loss as 58,000 of its soldiers died too (McAdam, Doug, and Yang Su, 2002). Amid the growing death toll, anti-war protests started in the 60s, which transformed into a mass social movement (McAdam, Doug, and Yang Su, 2002). The reasons for the anti-war protest and movement are discussed further.
Discussion
The anti-war movement started as sporadic protests at university campuses. Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), a leftist organization, staged protests in the mid-60s and made its voice heard (McAdam, Doug, and Yang Su, 2002). There was widespread disillusionment found in American society by 1967. The reason being that the US has had lost 15,000 soldiers until now. The war was costing taxpayers annually $ 25 billion (McAdam, Doug, and Yang Su, 2002). Such intense was the war that the US had to recruit 40,000 new soldiers monthly. This was done by the US government through a draft, that imposed a conscription mechanism for minorities and lower class citizens to participate in the war (McAdam, Doug, and Yang Su, 2002). Disappointment prevailed among the minorities over the draft and they put up a strong resistance against this unfairly drawn draft (McAdam, Doug, and Yang Su, 2002). Another reason for the anti-war movement was the unfettered television coverage which offered American citizens to see for themselves the nature of atrocities being inflicted on the Vietnamese people (McAdam, Doug, and Yang Su, 2002).
Conclusion
The role of student organizations in creating widespread awareness was instrumental in putting resistance against the Vietnam war. Additionally, unprecedented and comprehensive media broadcasts also affected the American citizens to agitate and demand the withdrawal of US troops from the war.
Works Cited
McAdam, Doug, and Yang Su. "The war at home: Antiwar protests and congressional voting, 1965 to 1973." American sociological review 67.5 (2002): 696-721.
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