How did Americans React to the Vietnam War?

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American citizens during the Vietnam War generally equally disapproved and approved of it; many protesting their dissent, and going out of their way to obtain deferments in order to avoid conscription, while many others voiced pro-war statements (Angrist 584-95). Deferments were a way to postpone your chance of conscription, which is being drafted into the military (Angrist 584-95). Although some were indeed anti-war, there was a rather equal or larger amount who voiced supportive opinions for the war, but as the war proceeded this changed (Gettleman). Such diversified opinions were the direct cause for the continuation of the war (Tomes). Peaceful protesters and radicals came into the spotlight as the war progressed, as more and more people voiced disapproving and anti-war statements towards the war (DeBenedetti 321-86).
The Vietnam War led to what is currently the largest anti-war movement in American history (Skarda 4; Dunn). With over 500,000 participants, the protesters in the fall of 1969 all marched on Washington to show their opposition to the war (Skarda 4; Herbers). Protests got so vast and expansive that the FBI got involved (Miller). The FBI went as far as forging a letter to the newspaper as a “parent” who complained of “immoral character” (Miller). This incited many prestigious and well known people to step in and voice their anti-war statements and opinions, such as the speech “Beyond Vietnam: A Time To Break Silence” by Martin Luther King Jr (King Jr). In this speech it's clear Martin Luther King Jr. did not support the war, as he called it immoral and said that it only leads to a growth in hatred (King Jr).
The protests and dissent raged on, eventually leading to a notable amount of radical protesters (Skarda...

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...he money-laundering attitude the media had towards the Vietnam War. He believes the media has to do with the negative view of the war. Graphic pictures with no penalty for showing them as well as raw videos of crying soldiers and more. The war was an upsetting time.

Tomes, Robert R. Apocalypse Then: American Intellectuals and the Vietnam War, 1954-1975. New York: NYU Press, 1990. Print. Tomes explains that many people considered “Intellectuals” voiced antiwar dissent. Many Americans, intelligent or not, were against the war and held peaceful protests. These “Intellectuals” delved into why radical groups and organizations were forming and came to the unanimous result came out basically as “because they are anti-war” (go figure!) and radical behavior quickly spread from when it first began and started up many violent protests and snide remarks to officials.

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