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Vietnam War
Huge conflict of the Cold War between North (supported by the communist states) and South (Supported by the anti communist states) Vietnam. -
First Draft Card Burning
The first well-publicized protest in December 1963. A 22-year-old objector, Gene Keyes, setting his draft card on fire on Christmas Day in Champaign, Illinois. -
First Major Protests
Starting at the University of Michigan,seminars raising consciousness in support of the Civil Rights Movement, brought in thousands of participants. -
March on Washington to End the War
The largest peace protest up to that point in American history, between 15,000 and 25,000 college students and others were drawn to the nation’s capital. Supporters of the event included Women Strike for Peace and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, showing the connection between the peace and civil rights movements. -
Law against protest
President Johnson signed a law making it a crime to burn a draft card with up to 5 years in prison and a $1000 fine. -
Vietnam Day Committee
Major anti-war protest organized by The Vietnam Day Committee (group of students, faculty and other members of the Bay Area community opposed to American intervention in the war) involving demonstrations and teach-ins across the United States. -
Draft Policy Protest
Protest against changes to the draft policy. Students staged a "sit-in" at the University of Wisconsin, occupying an administration building for several days until a compromise reached. -
Vietnam Summer
Antiwar activists canvas the suburbs for support, They also distributed fliers, placed ads in newspapers about the horrors of the Vietnam War. -
March on the Pentagon
More than 100.000 socially diverse attendants, ranging from middle class professionals, clergymen, hippies, and black activists participated the march on Pentagon. The protesters were met by soldiers, tear gas and rifle butts were used to chase away the crowd. -
Tet Offensive
One of the largest military operations of the Vietnam War, which became a turning point in the conflict was started by the North in hope of achieving victory that would end the conflict, or might force the United States to negotiate or perhaps even to withdraw. This changed entirely the perception of the war. -
Democratic National Convention protests
Held in Chicago, Illinois, with the aim to select a new presidential nominee.
Leaders of the Youth International Party (YIPPIES) planned a Youth Festival with the goal of bringing 100,000 young adults to Chicago. They tried to get a permit from Chicago to hold a YIPPIE convention. The permit was denied, but the YIPPIES still came including their own candidate, Lyndon Pigasus Pig who was an actual pig. Protests and riots were broke down by the police. -
Aftermath of the Democratic Convention protests
Chicago jury indicted eight police officers and eight civilians in connection with the riots during the Democratic convention. The civilians, known as the "Chicago 8" were the first persons to be charged under provisions of the 1968 Civil Rights act, which made a federal crime to cross state lines to incite a riot. -
Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam
Moratorium was a nationwide series of protests and demonstrations with the participation of students, activists, and even some mainstream political figures. This resulted in growing protest movement. -
Kent State Massacre
Killing of four & wounding of nine unarmed students by the Ohio National Guard on campus during a protest opposing the involvment. Though the protest was peaceful the students were ordered to disperse, first by ordering them to stop the protest through a megaphone, then police ordered to use tear gas, but since it was ineffective, students retreated up and over Blanket Hill, during their climb the guards began firing at she students. This resuled in increased protests. -
Winter Soldier Investigation
Media event sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, the aim was to publicize war crimes by the US Armed Forces. Mainstream media nearly ignored the Winter Soldier Investigation, and even if the story was covered most news were against the veterans saying that "this stuff happens in all wars." /Times, Jerry M. Flint, reporter for the New York Times/ -
Pentagon Papers
Classified Department of Defense study of U.S. military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967. They were leaked by Daniel Ellsberg to the New York Times and other newspapers. The papers revealed that the U.S. government had been misleading the public about the nature of its involvement in Vietnam. The leak exposed government secrets and contributed to a sense of distrust in official narratives. -
Effects of the Protests
The movement had a significant impact in shaping the public opinion, and eventually on the end of the war. The top contributors for the movement's momentum gaining were the media coverage, major protests, civil resistance and the veteran activism. -
Paris Peace Accords
“Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam,” officially end direct U.S. military involvement in Vietnam in 60 days. US was effectively removed from the conlfict, prisoners were exchanged.