Why The Vietnam War Ended The Anti-War Movement?
There are many misconceptions about the anti-war movement, one being that it was the reason the Vietnam war ended. On the contrary, the movement was more social and cultural than it was political. As a single organization it had little impact, but as a whole movement, it was able to influence on a broader level the politics in America. Even the Johnson and Nixon administration insisted they would ignore the anti-war efforts yet still, they adapted their policies to those who dissented.(456) Those in opposition to the anti-war wave tried with great effort to discredit the movement. For example during the Nixon administration, the movement was associated with communism and when that theory failed it was connected to domestic violence and terrorism.(455)
By doing so, the administration only further pushed the protest into a political issue.(455) In the 1972 elections candidate, anti-war efforts influenced George McGovern presidential campaign, and it would be the first time the war issue was brought into the political system.(3purple). Unfortunately, McGovern did not win, but Nixon also promised to end the Vietnam war. The anti-war movement criticized the war for being an “immoral, illegal, Nazi-like, imperialist war” it was a message that nationalist Americans including Nixon did not want to hear. (300white) As a result, he promised to adopt the policy of Vietnamization, troop withdrawal, lower draft calls and body count, and a victory through peace. (300white) Essentially this was to weaken the movement’s power, but these promises actually addressed the anti-war protestors issues. Later, when the war turned into bombing Cambodia and Laos, dissenters in the House of Senate would pass the Copper- Church amendment that stopped the funding to retain troops in Cambodia, supply military advisor and air raids. It became the first real limitation passed in the Senate that concerned the presidential power. In the end, the unity shown by Americans during this movement will never be forgotten.
By doing so, the administration only further pushed the protest into a political issue.(455) In the 1972 elections candidate, anti-war efforts influenced George McGovern presidential campaign, and it would be the first time the war issue was brought into the political system.(3purple). Unfortunately, McGovern did not win, but Nixon also promised to end the Vietnam war. The anti-war movement criticized the war for being an “immoral, illegal, Nazi-like, imperialist war” it was a message that nationalist Americans including Nixon did not want to hear. (300white) As a result, he promised to adopt the policy of Vietnamization, troop withdrawal, lower draft calls and body count, and a victory through peace. (300white) Essentially this was to weaken the movement’s power, but these promises actually addressed the anti-war protestors issues. Later, when the war turned into bombing Cambodia and Laos, dissenters in the House of Senate would pass the Copper- Church amendment that stopped the funding to retain troops in Cambodia, supply military advisor and air raids. It became the first real limitation passed in the Senate that concerned the presidential power. In the end, the unity shown by Americans during this movement will never be forgotten.