7 Jul 2022

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The United States’ Stand on the Civil Rights Movements and the Vietnam War

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During the 1950s and 960s, the United States of America experienced a dramatic change in its perspective of the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War, influenced by political and technological developments. The civil rights movement focused on maintaining complete economic, political, technological, and social rights for all Americans ( Dudziak, 2011) . The activism incorporated a diverse approach which included boycotts, legal actions, black militancy, and nonviolent civil disobedience, which resulted in strong opposition of white supremacists. Between 1960 and 1980, complete economic, political, and social equality had not been achieved since it was fuelled by disparities in the leaders' positions on the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam's War ( Dudziak, 2011) . For instance, the United States had an overwrapping position about the rights movements and Vietnam's war which contradicted the country's position on the global role. The country's position on both the Civil Rights Movements and the Vietnam War were propelled by various strategies and legislations, which propelled a mixture of civilian reactions from the global perspective ( Dudziak, 2011) . The country's participation in international affairs shows its conflicting situation caused by changes in technological and economic bias, such as Black Americans being deprived of their economic rights. 

The United States of America had a distinct position on the issue of the Civil Rights Movement. After numerous protests that some whites engaged in the fight against racial discrimination, the country implemented the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( Dudziak, 2011) . The act prohibited any prejudice against Black Americans in employment, hospitals, schools, and public places such as theatres and restaurants. The act also banned all sexual bias and discrimination. The act encouraged an economic uplift since all people could engage in developmental programs in the country. The act also ended unequal voter registration. However, the government can be criticized for its hypocrisy. For instance, in her book, Dudziak said that the United States of America was involved in hypocrisy when it showed the world how it is the ''leader of the free world'', while many Black Americans were subjected to discrimination ( Dudziak, 2011) . The economic injustice was felt when many leaders such as King wanted to enlarge the scope of Civil Rights to more problems such as housing, employment, and transportation. 

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The United States of America had a contradicting stand on the War of Vietnam. During Johnson's administration between 196-to 1969, the country was accused of an economic slow-down due to the involvement in the Vietnam war ( Yuravlivker, 2006) . The increasing opposition to the war, the cost of the war, and reduced support rendered the country economically poor. When the civil rights movements were ongoing, president Johnson entitled the black people with entrepreneurship skills to enhance technology and reduce poverty ( Yuravlivker, 2006) . Small businesses would help mitigate racial tensions and also improve the expansion of technology during the war. According to Dudziak (2011), the main reason why the prominent politicians in the country agreed to end racial discrimination is to acquire more military men during the Vietnam war. President Johnson was intrigued by the idea of making the United States Army a particular unit in combating all arising racial conflicts in the country, further showing the country's hypocrisy in the civil movements. 

The United States' involvement in civil rights movements and the Vietnam war showed domestic controversies in what the country stands for in human rights. The debates ranged from the country involving itself in the war, the military killing women, children, and civilians while at the same time advocating for civil rights. Therefore, it can be concluded that some of the Americans supported the war secretly because they possessed more advanced technological weapons. International outrage was reported when some of the soldiers were reported to misuse their civil rights. The country's actions made a contradictory view on its perception of the global incidences. It was clear that the government was discriminating and supporting civil rights when the situation got out of control and supported the war to gain more economic ground since its technology was more improved than other countries. 

References 

Dudziak, M. L. (2011).  Cold war civil rights: Race and the image of American democracy  (Vol. 73). CSU Online Library. https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu

Yuravlivker, D. (2006). “Peace without Conquest”: Lyndon Johnson's Speech of April 7, 1965.  Presidential Studies Quarterly 36 (3), 457-481. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-5705.2006.02557.x

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StudyBounty. (2023, September 15). The United States’ Stand on the Civil Rights Movements and the Vietnam War.
https://studybounty.com/the-united-states-stand-on-the-civil-rights-movements-and-the-vietnam-war-essay

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