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First American killed
Lt. Peter Dewey is the first American killed in Vietnam. -
Period: to
Vietnam War
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First Rally
Twelve students at a New York rally burn their draft cards and coin the slogan "We won't go!" -
U.S. Congress Approves
The U.S. Congress approves the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. -
New Law
Draft-card burning is made a crime punishable by five years in prison. -
27,500 Called
The Selective Service calls 27,500 . . . more than in any other month since 1953. -
40,200 Called
The Selective Service monthly call escalates to 40,200. -
First Convicted by New Law
David Mitchell becomes the first person convicted for draft-card burning. -
Twelve Arrested
Twelve black demonstrators are arrested at a sit-in at the Atlanta induction center; most are sentenced to three years in prison. -
1500 Draft Cards Burned
1500 draft cards are burned or returned. -
Boy Indicted
Beach Boy Carl Wilson is indicted for failing to report for induction. -
Muhammad Sentenced
Muhammad Ali is sentenced to five years in prison for refusing induction. -
Another New Law
A new draft law is passed; graduate student deferments are ended. -
Stop the Draft Week
Stop the Draft Week: two thousand draft cards are turned in; a national resistance organized is formed. -
123 Arrested
Joe Baez and 122 others are arrested at the Oakland, California, induction center. -
Draft Files Destroyed
The Baltimore Four destroy draft files. -
300 Arrested
300 people are arrested at anti-draft demonstrations in New York. -
More Men
General Westmoreland requests 206,000 men in addiction to the current force of 510,000- a 40 percent increase. -
Presidential Announcement
Lyndon Johnson announces he will not seek reelection. -
Paris Joins In
Vietnam peace talks begin in Paris. -
562 Americans Killed
562 Americans are killed in Vietnam in a single week. -
Catonsville Nine
The Catonsville Nine (The Berrigan brothers and seven others) burn 378 draft records with homemade napalm in Catonsville, Maryland. -
Kennedy Assassinated
Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated in Los Angeles. -
Benjamin Spock Convicted
Dr. Benjamin Spock is convicted of conspiracy to counsel draft evaders and violation of the Universal Military Training and Service Act. -
Convention Disruption
The Democratic National Convention in Chicago is disrupted by rioting; Hubert Humphrey becomes the Democratic nominee; Richard Nixon becomes the Republican nominee at the Republican convention in Miami. -
Milwaukee Fourteen
The Milwaukee Fourteen destroy 10,000 draft records. -
New President
Richard Nixon is elected President. -
Draft Lottery
The first draft lottery is drawn for 1970. -
Underground Hiding
Fathers Daniel and Philip Berrigan go underground after destroying draft records. -
Deferments Ended
Dependency deferments are ended by Nixon executive order. -
Invasion
The U.S. invades Cambodia. -
National Guard Opens Fire
The National Guard opens fire on students at an anti-war demonstration at Kent State University in Ohio, killing four and wounding thirteen. -
Amnesty Hearings Begin
Senator Edward Kennedy begins amnesty hearings for draft offenders. -
Last Induction
The last induction takes place. -
Clemency Program
President Geral Ford announces a clemency program: conditional amnesty in exchange for two years' alternative service. -
Registration Ended
Draft registration is ended. -
Blanket Pardon
President Jimmy Carter issues a blanket pardon for draft resisters. -
Draft Reinstated
Draft registration is reinstated.
