Question 1
Part 1
In the times nearing the end of the slavery period and during the popularization of the abolitionist movements, the Americas was divided into two; there was the northern and the Southern America The south was bent on making sure that slavery and the segregation between the whites and the blacks persisted. As such, they were filly opposed to any ideas about the abolitionist efforts. Nevertheless, the Africa Americans in these regions tried just as had to end the segregation. Below are some of the strategies employed by the African Americans.
According to Scholastic (Para 3), there were different African American organizations which employed different strategies. First of all, there was the Southern Christian leadership Conference which was spearheaded by Martin Luther King, Jr. This movement was bent on ending the social and racial segregation. It advocated for equal rights for all, regardless of their skin color. There was also the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) which called for equal opportunities for the white and black students. These two organizations led to the creation of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) which spread campaigns against racial inequality (Scholastic Para 4). Later on, there came the NAACP which called for the voting rights of the African Americans.
Part 2
Scholastic (Para 2) indicates that the whites in the south did not just sit by and watch as the African Americans pushed for their civil rights. On the contrary, these communities also tried as much as possible to make sure that they maintained the status quo. They employed different avenues in trying to make sure that their position as the superior race was not compromised.
Scholastic (Para 3) indicates that the avenue mainly exploited by the whites was the legal avenue. This was characterized by the Jim Crow doctrines. These laws were formulated in favor of the African Americans. They were given all the privileges, including the right to vote. On the other hand, the African Americans were taken as second-rate human beings. It was more dehumanizing that the whites in the south made it appear that the Africans were comfortable being treated as second rate human beings. The regulations, therefore, encouraged and propagated poor or no education of the Africans, imprisonment, and impoverishing of the African Americans. This was greatly unfair.
The whites also lifted some of the rights from being enjoyed by the African Americans. For instance, the voting right was lifted. This implied that there was no way that the blacks could make their voices heard. It is well known that the practice of an individual’s legal rights is one of the most effective strategies in making sure that the voice of everyone is heard. Therefore, by annihilating the voting rights of the African Americans, the system effectively made sure that their voice was lost. As such, they remained as second rate human beings and the segregation continued.
Question 2
Part 1
According to BBC (Para 1), the Vietnam War is a term used in describing the American military involvement in Vietnam since 1965-1973. It was a war that left many scars in the history of both countries. Many believe that the US should not have been involved in the war. In order to get a clear picture of the war, it is important to know why the US was involved in the first place.
BBC (Para 2) notes that the war came about soon after the World War II. At this point, it has to be noted that the US and the Soviet Union emerged as the two main super powers. However, they differed in their economic ideologies. The US was a capitalist nation while the Soviet Union was communist. The two tried to influence as many nations of the world to join their economic ideologies.
At the time, Vietnam was divided into two. There was the North which was pro-communist and the south which was Pro-capitalist. There was a section in the middle, known as the demilitarized zone (DMZ). The North was being funded by the Communist Soviet Union. It sought to fight the south into communism. It is for this reason that American got involved in the war. It tried to help the southern resistance against invasion by the communists. Looking at this scenario, it is evident that American got involved in the war so as to protect its economic interests. It did not want the south to be assimilated into communism. Though the war was never won, it left many scars in the lives of the Americans who were involved as well as their families.
Part 2
According to Kindig (Para 1), there were many in the US who were not in support of the war. Most notably were the students who stood up against the war in Vietnam. The best known student organization that stood up against the Vietnam War was the Students for a Democratic Society 9SDS). To a great extent, this organization drew its inspiration from the nationalist movements in the south. As such, they believed that there was a better way of dealing with the stifling issues of the cold war. They were opposed to the idea of military interventions.
The movement also incorporated the Asian students who stood up against the use of war in dealing with the Asian nation. The students also protested on the legal fronts. They were against the prosecution of their lecturers who were accused of being communists. The students felt that this was not the best way to deal with the cold war issues and the Vietnam War.
The students had a different point of view from the supporters of the war. Kindig 9Para 3) indicates that supporters of the war argued that the only way to stall the spread of communism was by forcefully protesting it. However, the students were of a different idea. They greatly felt that there were other better alternatives, such as dialogue and use of diplomatic methods. The protests of the students were soon taken up by other civil organizations in the society such as the religious organizations, women’s organizations, civil rights movements, among other philanthropic organizations which stood against the suffering of the people of Vietnam. In due time, the protests won the day and the American troops were withdrawn from Vietnam.
Works Cited
BBC. “Vietnam War: History.” Bbc.com, 2013. Web. 17th Dec. 2013, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/asia_pac/05/vietnam_war/html/introduction.stm
Kindig, Jessie. “Student Activism at UW, 1948-1970.” Washignton.edu, 2013. Web. 17th Dec. 2013, http://depts.washington.edu/antiwar/vietnam_student.shtml
Scholastic. “Civil Rights Movement: An Overview.” Scholastic.com, 2013. Web, 17th Dec. 2013, http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/civil-rights-movement-overview
