EDUCATING STUDENTS ON THE VALUES OF PEACE THROUGH THE STUDY OF THE DOMESTIC ANTIWAR MOVEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES (1954–1975)

Abstract

Half a century has passed since the conclusion of the Vietnamese people’s war of resistance against American aggression, yet the lessons drawn from this epochal struggle remain profoundly relevant in today’s complex geopolitical landscape. Revisiting the brutal realities of that war is not an attempt to reopen old wounds or foment resentment, but rather a moral imperative to educate younger generations on the immeasurable value of peace. The article is conducted using historical and logical methods, analyzing secondary sources, and cross-referencing them with published or publicly available materials from eyewitnesses. In the midst of that protracted conflict, it was the American progressive public driven by a deep-seated reverence for justice and peace that ignited a powerful antiwar movement against the invasion of Vietnam. The sheer moral force and civic intensity of this movement became a catalytic factor in deepening the political crisis within the United States. It weakened the legitimacy of the ruling elite and ultimately compelled American policymakers to sign the Paris Peace Accords in 1973, ending the war and restoring peace to Vietnam. To examine the antiwar movement within the United States between 1954 and 1975 is to honor historical truth with intellectual integrity. It is to recognize, with gratitude and clarity, the courageous solidarity offered by the American progressive public in support of the Vietnamese people’s righteous struggle for peace, independence, and national reunification.