Assignment Vietnam War
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Assignment Vietnam War
Michelle Caudillo
HIS/135
July 17, 2011
Mona Rocha
During the Vietnam War there was a draft called the Selective Service System. When men turned eighteen, they had to register with the draft. The draft had many changes; one was that if an individual was enrolled in college they could receive a deferment and not have to be drafted in the military until after college. However, once they graduated their name would be put to the top of the list to be drafted and deployed immediately. With this policy in effect many colleges and universities became involved in anti-war movements. Most of the faculty and students did not believe in the war and its cause. “Between the years of 1961 and 1973 the war claimed 57,000 American lives and left more than 300,000 wounded.” (Davidson, 2005)
Come graduation time many students feared the reality of the draft. Many students protested and voiced their opposition to the war. With fear there was the distrust of the government figures in charge and they publicly questioned the government’s judgment on handling the war. When the United States announced they would begin to send troops to Cambodia there was such a large protest that the National Guard had to be called in to control the situation. There was fear the protesting would turn into rioting and businesses would get damaged in the process. Come May 4th, 1970, Kent State University’s anti-war rally grew to almost 3,000 people in support of the anti-war movement. The National Guard had to use tear gas, when that did not work due to windy weather they “attempted to enforce the Ohio Riot Act with raised bayonets, forcing demonstrators to retreat.” (Kent State University, n.d.) As a result of the National Guard attack toward the protestors, nine students were injured, one of which was left paralyzed, and four died.
This incident put Kent State University in the spotlight and added fuel to the 1970’s continuing anti-war movement. Many Americans...
Michelle Caudillo
HIS/135
July 17, 2011
Mona Rocha
During the Vietnam War there was a draft called the Selective Service System. When men turned eighteen, they had to register with the draft. The draft had many changes; one was that if an individual was enrolled in college they could receive a deferment and not have to be drafted in the military until after college. However, once they graduated their name would be put to the top of the list to be drafted and deployed immediately. With this policy in effect many colleges and universities became involved in anti-war movements. Most of the faculty and students did not believe in the war and its cause. “Between the years of 1961 and 1973 the war claimed 57,000 American lives and left more than 300,000 wounded.” (Davidson, 2005)
Come graduation time many students feared the reality of the draft. Many students protested and voiced their opposition to the war. With fear there was the distrust of the government figures in charge and they publicly questioned the government’s judgment on handling the war. When the United States announced they would begin to send troops to Cambodia there was such a large protest that the National Guard had to be called in to control the situation. There was fear the protesting would turn into rioting and businesses would get damaged in the process. Come May 4th, 1970, Kent State University’s anti-war rally grew to almost 3,000 people in support of the anti-war movement. The National Guard had to use tear gas, when that did not work due to windy weather they “attempted to enforce the Ohio Riot Act with raised bayonets, forcing demonstrators to retreat.” (Kent State University, n.d.) As a result of the National Guard attack toward the protestors, nine students were injured, one of which was left paralyzed, and four died.
This incident put Kent State University in the spotlight and added fuel to the 1970’s continuing anti-war movement. Many Americans...