Sample learning activities
- Using at least five pieces of audio, create a mind map or Lotus chart to show the reasons different people expressed for their opposition to Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, and their opposition to conscription.
- Analyse a range of excerpts (be sure to have a cross-section of ages) using these prompts:
- The year the speaker was born;
- How they felt about the National Service Act;
- How they felt about Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War;
- What their attitude towards the USA was (if mentioned);
- Their own political attitudes at the time (if mentioned);
- Whether their opposition to the war and conscription seems to have been primarily political or personal in nature. Include evidence to support your claim.
- Use this analysis to write a short paragraph summarising what you think are the most prominent reasons for objecting to the Vietnam War, from this evidence; OR write a paragraph summarising the most prominent reasons for objecting to conscription.
- In small groups, list the political figures mentioned in these excerpts. For each, outline that figure’s position on the Vietnam War and/or conscription, and then also the attitude of these protesters towards each figure.
Sample assessment tasks
- Use these sources as part of an historical inquiry into how and why people protested against the Vietnam War.
- Use these sources as part of an evaluation of historical sources. Suggested short-answer questions include:
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- Describe the reasons people give for being opposed to the Vietnam War;
- Describe some connections between being opposed to the Vietnam War, and being opposed to conscription;
- Explain some of the reasons people held for why Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War was not appropriate;
- Explain some of the reasons why people objected to the use of conscription in the 1960s and 1970s.
- Use these sources as evidence in answering an extended response or essay. Suggested questions include:
- Analyse changing attitudes in Australia towards the Vietnam War and the National Service Act