Description
How did the protests and support of ordinary American citizens affect their country's participation in the Vietnam War? This engrossing book focuses on four social groups that achieved political prominence in the 1960s and early 1970s-students, African Americans, women, and labor-and investigates the impact of each on American foreign policy during the war.
Drawing on oral histories, personal interviews, and a broad range of archival sources, Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones narrates and compares the activities of these groups. He shows that all of them gave the war solid support at its outset and offers a new perspective on this, arguing that these "outsider" social groups were tempted to conform with foreign policy goals as a means to social and political acceptance. But in due course students, African Americans, and then women turned away from temptation and mounted spectacular revolts against the war, with a cumulative effect that sapped the resistance of government policymakers. Organized labor, however, supported the war until almost the end. Jeffreys-Jones shows that this gave President Nixon his opportunity to speak of the "great silent majority" of American citizens who were in favor of the war. Because labor continued to be receptive to overtures from the White House, peace did not come quickly.
About the Author
Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones, professor of American history at the University of Edinburgh, is the author of many books, including The CIA and American Democracy, published by Yale University Press.
Reviews
"Destined to become required reading for university students of U.S. foreign policy." Peter Ling, Times Higher Education Supplement "This highly original book makes an excellent contribution to social history. It is a subtle, complex study of both politics and protest movements in the late 1960s and early 1970s." W. J. Rorabaugh "Many books have been written on the anti-Vietnam movement, but none quite like Jeffreys-Jones's most interesting and imaginative Peace Now!... an intelligent and nuanced narrative." Melvin Small, Choice"
Book Information
ISBN 9780300089202
Author Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Yale University Press
Publisher Yale University Press
Weight(grams) 363g
Dimensions(mm) 210mm * 140mm * 23mm
Drawing on oral histories, personal interviews, and a broad range of archival sources, Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones narrates and compares the activities of these groups. He shows that all of them gave the war solid support at its outset and offers a new perspective on this, arguing that these "outsider" social groups were tempted to conform with foreign policy goals as a means to social and political acceptance. But in due course students, African Americans, and then women turned away from temptation and mounted spectacular revolts against the war, with a cumulative effect that sapped the resistance of government policymakers. Organized labor, however, supported the war until almost the end. Jeffreys-Jones shows that this gave President Nixon his opportunity to speak of the "great silent majority" of American citizens who were in favor of the war. Because labor continued to be receptive to overtures from the White House, peace did not come quickly.
About the Author
Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones, professor of American history at the University of Edinburgh, is the author of many books, including The CIA and American Democracy, published by Yale University Press.
Reviews
"Destined to become required reading for university students of U.S. foreign policy." Peter Ling, Times Higher Education Supplement "This highly original book makes an excellent contribution to social history. It is a subtle, complex study of both politics and protest movements in the late 1960s and early 1970s." W. J. Rorabaugh "Many books have been written on the anti-Vietnam movement, but none quite like Jeffreys-Jones's most interesting and imaginative Peace Now!... an intelligent and nuanced narrative." Melvin Small, Choice"
Book Information
ISBN 9780300089202
Author Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Yale University Press
Publisher Yale University Press
Weight(grams) 363g
Dimensions(mm) 210mm * 140mm * 23mm
