The Draft and the Anti-War movement

Anti war movement

2.15 million men sent to Vietnam due to draft, 1.6 million into combat
Those who fought disproportianally poor, badly educated, and black
black americans formed 11% of the American population made up 12.6% soldiers in Vietnam
over 60% those who died Vietnam 17-21
conscripts lacked enthusiasm
draft took no account religious or philosophical objections, college students exempt from draft, and relevant civilinan activties that favoured exemption white middle and upper class
opposition and demonstrations began in 1964 and grew in strength
spring 1967- student rallies 200,000 in N.Y and 50,000 San Francisco demonstrated against war
Anti-War movement grew out range of forces, including national civil rights, anti-nuclear campaigns and pascifist movements
May 4th 1970- Kent state university, national guard troops called in to calm scene ended up firing on crowd and killing 4 students
sparked protests at hundreds of college campuses across country many turned violent and 2 more students killed in protest at Jackson state University in Mid-May

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1967 US troops being killed over 1000 a month
American public opinion divided.Anti-War movement never gained widespread support. Government attacked movement 45% Americans favoured increased military presence Vietnam, 41% favoured withdrawal
CIA investigated and monitored anti-war movement
concluded that protestors not interested in pre-packed ideology or subject to excessive communist guidance
Johnson increased harassement and surveillance of anti-war opponent

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conflicting advice
VP Hubert Humphrey said america throwing lives and resources away bycontinuation in the Vietnam war
Joint chiefs of staff called for 200,000 additional troops, caused George Ball and Bill Moyers to resign
Johson granted increase of 55,000 troops and widened rolling thunder
McGeorge Bundy adviced that the president change the commander in the field, General Westmoreland
Towards end 1967, 16 advisors known as 'wise men' suggested policy of vietnamisation- might silence outrage at home over American casulties

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McNamara, Secretary of Defence, blamed for limiting bombing
hearing before sentate, testified bombing Ho Chi Minh trail not succeed ending insurgency
Felt increasing bombing may provoke confronntation USSR. Increasingly stressed and tearful
resigned Nov 1967, seen major turning point Vietnam war, starting process de-escalation
Jan 1968 replaced Secretary of Defense by Clark Clifford
tried gain more troops from countries involved with US in Vietnam. Clifford formed opinion little risk dominoes falling if US withdraw troops Vietnam
At that point Hanoi embarked much more forceful policy with Tet Offensive
Turning point in war as 1967 ended
Statistics indicated that US operations going well and that escalation right policy
Johnson felt only miscalculation had been not sending ground troops in earlier

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