Cultural Impacts of the Vietnam War

American SentimentWas the Vietnam War popular in

America?What impact did the news media

have on American sentiment?What cultural impact did the

Vietnam War have?

Domino Theory – Idea that if one country falls to Communism, the next will fall.

Because of this, in the beginning, most American felt that Vietnam War was necessary.

However, this began to change as news from Vietnam started coming in.

Vietnam War in the News

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=2827337n

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/in_pictures_the_vietnam_war_/html/2.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/in_pictures_the_vietnam_war_/html/8.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/in_pictures_the_vietnam_war_/html/5.stm

How would such images change sentiment?

What would your reaction be to the information on the news?

How would you feel about the draft and soldiers after seeing such images?

Kent State Incident and Anti-War ProtestsNixon announces draft on April 30, 1970Protests across countryCome to a head on May 4 when 28 National

Guardsmen open fire on protesters throwing rocks at Kent State in Ohio. Four students were killed and nine injured.

Similar incident at Jackson State in Mississippi on May 14 with two dead and nine wounded.

http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/kent-state/videos

Image from Kent State

http://www.wellesley.edu/Polisci/wj/Vietnam/ThreeImages/images/filoL.JPG

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/in_pictures_the_vietnam_war_/html/10.stm

http://hawkeye15scotty.umwblogs.org/files/2010/11/vietnam-war-protest.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lTJgMmHZNYQ

http://unit8kendallross10.wikispaces.com/file/view/antiwar-protesters2.jpg/145337577/antiwar-protesters2.jpg

Protest: not just for the youth

http://ironingboardcollective.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/protest4.jpg

Protest MusicMusicians began to record anti-war songs. Go from

more general anti-war to more focused on Veitnam War

Yes, how many times must a man look upBefore he can see the sky ?

Yes, how many ears must one man haveBefore he can hear people cry ?

Yes, how many deaths will it take till he knowsThat too many people have died ?

The answer my friend is blowin' in the windThe answer is blowin' in the wind.

- From “Blowin’ In the Wind” by Bob Dylan, 1962

Mother, motherThere's too many of you crying

Brother, brother, brotherThere's far too many of you dyingYou know we've got to find a way

To bring some lovin' here today - Ya

Father, fatherWe don't need to escalate

You see, war is not the answerFor only love can conquer hate

You know we've got to find a wayTo bring some lovin' here today

Picket lines and picket signsDon't punish me with brutality

Talk to me, so you can seeOh, what's going on

What's going onYa, what's going onAh, what's going on

-From “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye, 1971http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-kA3UtBj4M

A bullet from the back of a bush took Medgar Evers' blood.A finger fired the trigger to his name. 

A handle hid out in the dark, A hand set the spark, 

Two eyes took the aim, Behind a man's brain; 

But he can't be blamed -He's only a pawn in their game. 

From "A Pawn in Their Game" by Bob Dylan 

He's 5 foot 2 and he's 6 feet 4He fights with missiles and with spears 

He's all of 31 and he's only 17.He's been a soldier for a thousand years

He's a Catholic, a Hindu, an atheist, a JaneA Buddhist, and a Baptist and Jew.

And he knows he shouldn't killAnd he knows he always will kill

You'll for me my friend and me for you

From "Universal Soldier" by Buffy Sainte-Marie

Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young write “Ohio” after Kent State Incident.

Tin soldiers and Nixon's coming,We're finally on our own.

This summer I hear the drumming,Four dead in Ohio.

Gotta get down to itSoldiers are gunning us down

Should have been done long ago.What if you knew her

And found her dead on the groundHow can you run when you know?

-From “Ohio” byCrosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, 1970

How does protest music reflect American sentiment about the Vietnam War?

Can you think of any other songs that are considered protest songs?

Are there poltical messages in music today? What are they and by whom?

Sourceshttp://www.history.com/topics/kent-statehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4498011.

stmhttp://www.pbs.org/independentlens/strangef

ruit/war.html