Students for a Democratic Society, or SDS was a 1960s organization, or student activist movement. This movement originated or was an extension of the Student League for Industrial Democracy, or SLID, the youth branch of League for Industrial Democracy or LID. The LID was a socialist educational organization founded in 1905 by prominent socialists. In the 1960 however, Student League for Industrial Democracy changed it's name to Students for a Democratic Society (from SLID to SDS). That same year, Alan Haber was elected president of SDS during the first meeting held in the University of Michigan. The ultimate goal for the SDS was to represent the student organizations that opposed the Vietnam War.
From 1962 to 1963 the president of SDS was Tom Hayden, an American social and political activist. Most of the members of this organization were college students coming from wealthy families. These students advocated the idea that non-violent acts would help them bring the Vietnam War to an end and even change the world. In 1962 the SDS's founding member had the first of many annual meeting to come in Port Huron, New York. Resulting from this first meeting was the Port Huron Statement, an organizational manifesto. The manifesto was based off of a draft by former president, Tom Hayden. 
Who: the founding members of the Students for a Democratic Society
What: the members met for one of their first annual meetings which resulted in an organizational manifesto known as the Port Huron Statement
When: 1962
Where: Port Huron, New York
Why: the manifesto delineated the essence of the organization
Ngo Dinh Diem
Ngo Dinh Diem was born on January 3, 1901 in Quang Binh Province, Vietnam. Today Ngo Dinh Diem is commemorated as having been South Vietnam's first president also known as Asia's "miracle" man; however, he was no ordinary president. President Eisenhower put him in charge of Vietnam in 1957. He was later referred to as the Winston Churchwill of Asia. He was a conservative anti-communist, wealthy, Catholic and well-educated man. Due to his background, Ngo Dinh Diem is considered to have been a poor choice of a leader for Vietnam during this time since about ninety percent of the population was composed of poor Buddhist farmers. Today Ngo Dinh Diem's control over Vietnam is also criticized due to the fact that his whole government was composed of his rather competitive family members.
While in power in Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem did not yearn or ask for support from the majority of Vietnam's people (the poor farmers). Instead, he encouraged the wealthy (landlords) to be active; resulting in the urgency of the land reform and land distribution policy. Consequently, Ngo Dinh Diem was not at all liked by the poor (90% or population), but fully supported and liked by the wealthy. 
Due to his poor decisions, Ngo Dinh Diem soon became a burden, or liability to the United States and it's anti-communist intentions. During this time the US President was the beloved John F. Kennedy and the US Ambassador to Vietnam was Henry Cabot Lodge. President JFK had become very frustrated with Ngo Dinh Diem's actions and decisions which resulted in Henry Cabot Lodge ultimate order of a "coup d’etat". He ordered the murder of Ngo Dinh Diem and other top leaders. A general, head of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam military, replaced Diem after his murder.
Who: John F. Kennedy letter to Ngo Dinh Diem
What: Diem had told JFK about the dangerous conditions caused by North Vietnam's efforts to take over the US.
When: 1961
Where: Vietnam and the United States
Why: The US was threatened by North Vietnam
I cannot believe that the wealthy American an college students felt to strong about the Vietnam War that they started a movement.
ReplyDeletethis movements first ideologies were much similar to mlk jr
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