Changes

At Kent State University in 1970, peaceful protesters were shot at by National Guardsmen and several were killed.  Unrest continued.  The United States began looking for ways to get out of the war in any way possible.

At Kent State University in 1970, peaceful protesters were shot at by National Guardsmen and several were killed.  Unrest continued.  The United States began looking for ways to get out of the war in any way possible.

Henry Kissinger, a foreign-born adviser to Nixon who essentially ran the Nixon Administration, settled the war in the Paris peace talks in 1972-73 on terms that required the United States to pull out.  North Vietnam then took over South Vietnam (Saigon fell to the communists in 1975), and the final pictures were of South Vietnamese desperately trying to board the last planes bound for America.  A decade later, a memorial was built in D.C. that commemorates those who gave their lives.  Some say that the fighting was not in vain, because it slowed down the growth of communism long enough to save the neighboring countries until the Soviet Union itself collapsed.

Henry Kissinger, a foreign-born adviser to Nixon who essentially ran the Nixon Administration, settled the war in the Paris peace talks in 1972 and 1973 on terms that required the United States to pull out and let Vietnam fall to the communists.  A decade later, a memorial was built in D.C. that commemorates those who gave their lives.  Some say that the fighting was not in vain, because it slowed down the growth of communism long enough to save the neighboring countries until the Soviet Union itself collapsed.

To avoid a repeat of involvement in a war without a formal declaration of war, as happened in the Vietnam War (and in the Korean War), Congress passed the War Powers Act.  It requires that the President obtain the approval of Congress within 60 days of using troops in battle in a foreign conflict.

To avoid a repeat of involvement in a war without a formal declaration of war, as happened in the Vietnam War (and in the Korean War), Congress passed the War Powers Act in 1973.  It requires that the President obtain the approval of Congress within 60 days of using troops in battle in a foreign conflict.

All legal challenges to the draft failed during the war.  However, African American boxer Cassius Clay converted to Islam, changed his name to Muhammad Ali, and then refused to be drafted because he did not consider the Vietnam War to be a "holy war."  In other words, Ali asserted a "conscientious objection" that is rarely granted to any religious belief except the most established (such as the Amish).  "War is against the teachings of the Holy Qur'an. I'm not trying to dodge the draft. We are not supposed to take part in no wars unless declared by Allah or The Messenger. We don't take part in Christian wars or wars of any unbelievers," Ali declared in refusing to be drafted.  The Supreme Court eventually ruled in Muhammad Ali's favor on a technicality, in an unsigned (per curiam) opinion.  The decision did suggest, however, that adherents to Islam may be considered conscientious objectors exempt from the draft:  "For the record shows that the petitioner's beliefs are founded on tenets of the Muslim religion as he understands them. They are surely no less religiously based than those of the three registrants before this Court in Seeger," which upheld a claim of conscientious objection against the draft.

All legal challenges to the draft failed during the war.  However, African American boxer Cassius Clay converted to Islam, changed his name to Muhammad Ali, and then refused to be drafted because he did not consider the Vietnam War to be a "holy war."  In other words, Ali asserted a "conscientious objection" that is rarely granted to any religious belief except the most established (such as the Amish).  "War is against the teachings of the Holy Qur'an. I'm not trying to dodge the draft. We are not supposed to take part in no wars unless declared by Allah or The Messenger. We don't take part in Christian wars or wars of any unbelievers," Ali declared in refusing to be drafted.  The Supreme Court eventually ruled in Muhammad Ali's favor on a technicality, in an unsigned (per curiam) opinion.  The decision did suggest, however, that adherents to Islam may be considered conscientious objectors exempt from the draft:  "For the record shows that the petitioner's beliefs are founded on tenets of the Muslim religion as he understands them. They are surely no less religiously based than those of the three registrants before this Court in ''Seeger''," a rare decision in 1965 that upheld a claim of conscientious objection against the draft.

'''Debate:  Should Muhammad Ali have been allowed to avoid the draft?'''

'''Debate:  Should Muhammad Ali have been allowed to avoid the draft?'''

In 1971, in ''New York Times v. U.S.'', the Supreme Court denied President Nixon the power to stop publication of the Pentagon Papers, which was a secret document prepared by the government that had been leaked to the press.  It contained an embarrassing study of American involvement in Vietnam.

In 1971, in ''New York Times v. U.S.'', the Supreme Court denied President Nixon the power to stop publication of the Pentagon Papers, which was a secret document prepared by the government which had been leaked to the press.  It contained an embarrassing study of the American involvement in Vietnam.

==ERA and Abortion==

==ERA and Abortion==