The war in Vietnam, which lasted from 1955 to 1975, has gone down as one of the influential and controversial wars in United States history. The nation as a whole began to uproar over the war and the major consequences of the war. Public opinion steadily turned against the war following 1967. In the year of 1970, only a third of Americans believed that the U.S. didn’t make a mistake to send more soldiers into Vietnam. Soldiers were dying, and they continued to be sent over to fight even with the outcry for them not to be. The anti-war rhetoric was pushed through politicians, celebrities, concerts, protests, average citizens of different economic classes, but most importantly through song. In a academic journal called Protest and Rock
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For example, there are many popular songs that define the era of the Vietnam War, including tracks from The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, etc. These artists and their songs listened through the radios of cars and homes of citizens in the US. The songs influenced all Americans to stand up for peace, love, and unity during the time of violence and war. The power of the music influenced many to voice their opinions against the pro-war individuals who wanted the Vietnam War in order to stop the spread of Communism. The songs were listened through other outlets like concerts and music festivals. One of the more popular ones was the Woodstock Music Festival in August 1969 which is arguably the most influential musical event that spread the message of peace towards the close of the decade. In the reading, Remembering the Dangers of Rock and Roll:Toward a Historical Narrative of the Rock Festival, “Woodstock concerned peace and love (in obvious opposition of the Vietnam War) and heady experiences” (Schowalter pg 90). Alexander Hopkins mentions in his journal, “Billed as the ‘Three days of peace and music’, the event attracted several thousand concertgoers, mostly due to its vast lineup of several well-known rock artists” (Hopkins). The artists wanted to end the war and live in a society where there is no war, but peace among
For example, there are many popular songs that define the era of the Vietnam War, including tracks from The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, etc. These artists and their songs listened through the radios of cars and homes of citizens in the US. The songs influenced all Americans to stand up for peace, love, and unity during the time of violence and war. The power of the music influenced many to voice their opinions against the pro-war individuals who wanted the Vietnam War in order to stop the spread of Communism. The songs were listened through other outlets like concerts and music festivals. One of the more popular ones was the Woodstock Music Festival in August 1969 which is arguably the most influential musical event that spread the message of peace towards the close of the decade. In the reading, Remembering the Dangers of Rock and Roll:Toward a Historical Narrative of the Rock Festival, “Woodstock concerned peace and love (in obvious opposition of the Vietnam War) and heady experiences” (Schowalter pg 90). Alexander Hopkins mentions in his journal, “Billed as the ‘Three days of peace and music’, the event attracted several thousand concertgoers, mostly due to its vast lineup of several well-known rock artists” (Hopkins). The artists wanted to end the war and live in a society where there is no war, but peace among