History Module 7 Portfolio Project: The Antiwar Movement

History Module 7 Portfolio Project The Antiwar Movement Name Institution The Antiwar Movement Background The 60s represent one of the most volatile decades in the American history. From the Civil Rights movement to the antiwar movement to the Feminist movement, everyone seemed discontented with the direction the country was going. People like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and James Bevel lived fearless lives as they fought and tried to instill hope in the lives of the American people. These people believed in their dreams of a better and inclusive life and therefore, soldiered on in their quest. The civil rights movement could not be discussed without the contributions of these people. From all corners of the world, the speeches and marches organized by these people reverberated and their exploits motivated thousands more to stand for what they believed in. However, the civil rights movement was not the only movement that caused ripples in the United States. The Antiwar Movement was also another movement which not only helped to bring an end to the Vietnam War but also depicted the people’s resolve and dedication to their country and what it stands for. Aside from the above, it also helped to show the government that the people’s voice matter and that they should not be taken for granted. While most people talk and often get involved in antiwar discussions, few are aware of how the movement started as well as how it metamorphosized to what it became later. However, reading Mark Barringer’s article provides one with an in-depth understanding of the history of the movement. Apparently, the movement started with smaller movements like the Sane Nuclear Policy (SANE) founded in 1957, the Student Peace Union founded in 1959, and the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) founded in 1960 (Barringer, 1999). However, it is essential to note that these movements did not start as antiwar movements, but all were motivated by different issues. For example, SANE was inspired by the Cold War and the nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union. SPU, on the other hand, sought for much more than a sound nuclear policy and according to Barringer, its “goals went beyond that of SANE.” Apparently, the pioneers of SPU sought and desired “a wholesale restructuring of American society.” however, it slowly faded away but not before it had paved the way for SDS. Aside from these, there also existed the Free Speech Movement whose rhetoric was mainly against war and America’s participation in the Vietnam War. Having gained traction and with hundreds of students joining these movements, antiwar rhetoric spread in the campuses and by 1965, there was sound opposition. However, while campuses had shown resolve in their quest to stay vigilant and to stage protests against the war in Vietnam, the big question was how to generate as Barringer (1999) notes, “wider public acceptance.” SDS understood its informal mandate to the American people and was, therefore, working to make their stance known all over the country. In 1965, the group began organizing marches while “faculty members at the University of Michigan held a series of “teach-ins,” modelled after earlier Civil Rights seminars” (Barringer, 1999). Campus...