Modern American History: Revolution, Reform, and Protest

Vietnam

The Vietnam War was the first widely protested war in America, marking the birth of the anti-war movement.  Though the movement originated and is most well-known for its manifestation in the sixties, it only grew more powerful in the early 1970’s until the wars' end in 1973.  Most Americans were opposed to the draft, the economic costs, and lack of justifications for the war.  In 1970, it was announced U.S. forces had entered Cambodia despite promises from President Nixon to bring troops home, sparking a new wave of protests.  One of these protests, held at Kent State University, was to become one of the most influential protests of the movement.  Four student protesters were shot and killed by national guardsmen who were trying to break up the protest, bringing the anti-war movement even closer to home for many Americans and causing them to take a closer look at this breach of free-speech.  (Picture shown to left is of Jeffrey Miller, one of the four students killed, and fellow protester Mary Vecchio).  Whereas war had once been a time for Americans to show support and patriotism, Vietnam changed it to a time for unified revolt.

Persian Gulf War

The anti-war movement for the Persian Gulf War in the early nineties indicated a shift from the vigorous protest of the sixties and seventies to a more subdued protest.  The Gulf War was more widely supported among Americans, and was a much less deadly war, so the peace-advocators did not really stage a successful protest in that the war continued until the Iraqis were removed from Kuwait.  They did, however, play a role in President Bush’s immediate withdrawel of the troops after the Iraqi regime was removed.

War in Iraq

The anti-Iraq war movement was similar to that of the Gulf War in that it did not reach the intensity of the anti-Vietnam movement; however, while the majority of the Americans did not oppose the Gulf war, the majority of Americans did view the Iraq War as a mistake by its second or third year.  Many people thought it was wrong for America to be getting involved with Iraq when not necessary, and when none of the original objectives were met; the war came under even further scrutiny.  Hundreds of protests, sit-ins, and marches were held throughout America and the rest of the world opposing the war, becoming one of the most unpopular wars of modern American history.  (Photograph at left is of a protest in Portland, Oregon on March 19, 2006.)