Blog A Anti - Vietnam Song -Vietnam War

 Vietnam War & Protest Song

Throughout time, music has been an influential part of society. As a form of entertainment and expression, its impact has always been felt both economically and emotionally.

Give Peace A Chance Lyrics

Ev'rybody's talking about

Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, Tagism

This-ism, that-ism

Isn't it the most

All we are saying is give peace a chance

All we are saying is give peace a chance

John Lennon's message in his song is saying war does not solve all problems but if "you give peace

a chance" it may be a better solution to solve all the problems in war. The song also mentions the spoken

parts, it is saying that the most popular subjects are all this gossip and controversial or debatable topics

and opinions. The way he sees it is there is no need for that sort of thing in the world. People shouldn't try

not arguing and debating. As he says "give peace a chance".

-Woodstock Festival -

Woodstock was a music festival that was held from August 15-18th, 1969, in the town of Bethel,

New York. The festival displayed the top rock, folk, and progressive musicians of the sixties era,

and despite the fact that Woodstock evolved around sex, drugs, and rock and roll it quickly became

known as "Three Days of Peace and Music". Thousands of people from all over the United States

attended Woodstock. Woodstock was a monumental music festival that changed the United States

of America forever because it brought peace and love to the world, showed the rebellious, young,

hippie generation that they could make a difference in their country, and created a movement of

change and freedom which helped to end the Vietnam War.

-Vietnam War-

What was the Background to the Vietnam War?

-Vietnam was ruled by the French till 1954. Then it was divided into two countries.

- The communist ruler of North Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, wanted to unite the North and South under

his control. He supported the Vietcong in South Vietnam.

- President Diem ruled South Vietnam. He was strongly anti-communist, but also was a brutal and

unpopular leader.

Who were the Vietcong?

-The Vietcong (or the National Liberation Front) were the communist guerrilla soldiers fighting

to overthrow President Diem and his government.

- By 1964, there were over 100,000 Vietcong in the South and they were killing thousands of

south Vietnamese officials every year. Diem's army could not get rid of them.

Why did the American's get involved?

- America wanted to contain communism and it saw the North Vietnamese as trying to spread

it to the South

- The USA wanted to support non-communist governments which it believed were threatened

by communists. It knew that the USSR and China, both communist countries, were sending

aid to communist North Vietnam.

-The Americans also believed in the "domino theory". If Vietnam became communist, they were

sure that neighbouring countries (e.g. Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia) would follow.

- Diem was a corrupt and brutal leader, who was very unpopular. He was a catholic ruling a

mainly Buddhist country and gave Catholics all the best jobs. This meant lots of South

Vietnamese people did not like him and were more likely to support the Vietcong.

How did the Vietnamese use guerrilla warfare?

- Guerrillas fight in small units, avoiding face-to-face fights with their enemy.

- The Vietcong guerrillas used ambushes, planted mines and booby traps, targeting isolated

US units.

-They were experts at camouflage, blending into the countryside. They did not wear a uniform.

-They dug 250 km of tunnels to hide in; the tunnels contained kitchens, weapons stores, hospitals

and living quarters.

-Vietcong guerrillas were helped by local people, but most of their supplies came down the Ho

Chi Minh Trail. It was actually many different paths. Thousands of people organised it, enduring

terrible conditions.