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Arguments Against The Vietnam War Essay

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1. What were the arguments for and against the war? The Vietnamese War was a controversial conflict, with many arguments for and against it.
Arguments for the Vietnam War: Containing Communism was one of the primary justifications for the Vietnam War was the belief that it was necessary to contain communism in South Asia. The U.S. government saw Vietnam as a critical battleground in the Cold War and believed that if South Vietnam fell to communism, it would set off a chain reaction of communist expansion throughout the region. Arguments against the Vietnam War: The Human Cost was one of the strongest arguments against the Vietnam War was the human cost of the conflict. The war caused the deaths of thousands of American soldiers and millions …show more content…

Where do we see examples of class divisions in the protests and social commentary around the war? (cite specific instances) Upper class(non-fighting, politicians, leading war effort: Upper class benefits from its position by doing Draft Resistance. One of the clearest examples of class divisions in the protests around the Vietnam War was draft resistance. Wealthy Americans could obtain deferments or avoid the draft altogether, either by enrolling in college or seeking medical exemptions. This led to resentment among working-class and poor Americans, who were more likely to be drafted and sent to fight in Vietnam. "The Kids(protesters) are putting us in, and the papers are putting us in; Lindsay is out advocating rebellion." Middle class(Vietnam protesters, College students):, Primarily, the middle class led the protests; anti-war protests also revealed class divisions. Many leading anti-war activists were middle-class or upper-middle-class students and intellectuals who could participate in protests and engage in civil disobedience without fear of losing their jobs or going to jail. On the other hand, working-class Americans often faced more significant economic and social risks if they protested or opposed the

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