The Anti-War Movement (1964-1973)

The Anti-War Movement emerged in response to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, growing from small campus protests to a massive national movement that helped shift public opinion and ultimately influenced American foreign policy.

Key Organizations

Student Groups

  • Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)
  • Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
  • Campus Action Committees

Peace Organizations

  • SANE (Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy)
  • Women Strike for Peace
  • Vietnam Veterans Against the War

Religious Groups

  • Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam
  • Catholic Peace Fellowship
  • Fellowship of Reconciliation

Key Figures

Movement Leaders

  • Dr. Benjamin Spock
  • Tom Hayden
  • David Dellinger
  • John Kerry (VVAW)

Cultural Figures

  • Joan Baez
  • Pete Seeger
  • Muhammad Ali
  • Bob Dylan

Major Events

1965

First major teach-ins at University of Michigan

1967

March on the Pentagon

1968

Democratic Convention protests

1970

Kent State shootings

1971

Vietnam Veterans Against the War protests

Tactics and Methods

Protest Activities

  • Mass demonstrations
  • Campus teach-ins
  • Draft card burning
  • Civil disobedience

Cultural Expression

  • Anti-war music
  • Underground press
  • Street theater
  • Peace symbols

Opposition and Challenges

Government Response

  • FBI surveillance
  • National Guard deployment
  • Legal prosecution
  • Media criticism

Public Response

  • Counter-protests
  • %quot;Silent Majority%quot; opposition
  • Campus conflicts
  • Generation gap

Impact and Legacy

Immediate Effects

  • Shifted public opinion
  • Influenced policy changes
  • End of military draft
  • Cultural transformation

Long-term Influence

  • Future peace movements
  • Protest tactics
  • Foreign policy debates
  • Military policy changes

Historical Significance

The Anti-War Movement represented one of the largest and most influential protest movements in American history. It helped end U.S. involvement in Vietnam, transformed American politics and culture, and established new models for social protest. Its legacy continues to influence peace movements and debates about American military intervention around the world.