Library Exhibits

Peace & War digital exhibit explores the Vietnam experience through the lens of the Georgia College student-run newspaper, The Colonnade, demonstrating the parallels found between campus opinion and the national experience during this tumultuous time. Oral histories from local veterans and alumni present the juxtaposition of experiences found between student and solider, and how far-reaching cultural issues created a divisive environment that made one feel as if the nation was falling apart.

America's involvement in the Vietnam War (1955-1975) was marked by a commitment to halt the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. Initially providing military advisors, the U.S. escalated its role, deploying over half a million troops by 1969. The conflict, characterized by guerrilla warfare and a resilient North Vietnamese enemy, led to a protracted and divisive war at home. Public opposition grew due to casualties and moral concerns. The U.S. withdrew in 1973 following the Paris Peace Accords, leaving South Vietnam to fend for itself. The fall of Saigon in 1975 marked the end of American involvement and the reunification of Vietnam under communist control.

The American Anti-war movement during the Vietnam era (1950s-1970s) was a significant and diverse grassroots movement that protested the U.S. government's involvement in the Vietnam War. It emerged as a response to the escalation of American military commitment in Southeast Asia and gained momentum throughout the 1960s.

Key components of the anti-war movement included:

1. Youth and Student Activism: College campuses were hotbeds of anti-war protests. Organizations like Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organized demonstrations, sit-ins, and teach-ins to raise awareness about the war's consequences.

2. Civil Rights Movement: Many civil rights leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr., linked the struggle for civil rights with opposition to the Vietnam War, arguing that resources spent on the war should be redirected to address domestic inequalities.

3. Peaceful Protests: Mass protests and marches, notably the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam in 1969, drew hundreds of thousands of participants across the country. These events aimed to pressure the government to change its war policies.

4. Celebrities and Cultural Icons: Influential figures like Muhammad Ali, who refused to be drafted, and musicians like Bob Dylan and John Lennon used their fame to speak out against the war.

5. Veteran Activism: Organizations like Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) were founded by veterans who had served in Vietnam and subsequently opposed the war, sharing their experiences and testimonies.

The anti-war movement played a significant role in shaping public opinion and ultimately contributed to a shift in U.S. policy. The Nixon administration began withdrawing troops in 1969, and by 1973, the U.S. had pulled out of Vietnam. The movement highlighted the power of grassroots activism and its ability to influence government decisions, leaving a lasting legacy in American political and social history.