Pacifism in the United States

Pacifism has manifested in the United States in a variety of forms (such as peace movements), and in myriad contexts (such as opposition to the Civil War and to nuclear weapons). In general, it exists in contrast to an acceptance of the necessity of war for national defense.

Pacifist ideas

In early America religious groups such as the Brethren, Mennonites, and Quakers disseminated "antiwar sentiments...fostered by a growing colonial aversion to the carnage of the European imperial wars."

In the 1930s influential theologian Reinhold Niebuhr rejected overly idealist pacifism as "perverse sentimentality," in favor of just war.

In contrast to pacifism based on religious beliefs, some in the U.S. have opposed violent conflict on economic grounds, or for other practical, non-religious reasons.

U.S. Congress created the United States Institute of Peace in 1984 to promote international peace through education.

Wartime

War of 1812

The war ended in February 1815. New peace groups formed shortly thereafter: the New York Peace Society (est. August 1815) and Massachusetts Peace Society (est. December 1815).

Civil War

World War I

World War II

Korean War

The American Peace Crusade formed in 1951, in opposition to U.S. involvement in the Korean War.

Vietnam War

2001 Afghanistan War

Iraq War

See also

* Peace movement in the United States
* List of anti-war organizations in the United States
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* United States Pacifist Party
* Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (est. 1910)
* ''War is a Racket''
* Pacifism in Germany

References

Bibliography

Published in 20th century

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* C. Chatfield (1971). ''For peace and justice: Pacifism in America, 1914-1941'' (University of Tennessee Press)
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* L.S. Witner (1984). ''Rebels against war: The American peace movement, 1933-1983'' (Temple University Press, Philadelphia)

1990s

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* R.C. Peace III (1991). ''A just and lasting peace: The US peace movement from the Cold War to desert storm'' (Noble Press, Chicago)
* C. Chatfield (1992). ''The American peace movement: Ideal and activism'' (New York)
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* C. Smith (1996). ''Resisting Reagan: The US-Central America peace movement''. University of Chicago Press
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Published in 21st century

2000s

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* C.F. Howlett (2005). ''History of the American peace movement 1890-2000: The emergence of a new scholarly discipline'' Edwin Mellen Press, New York
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2010s

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* (About the 1940s-1970s)
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External links

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Images

File:IDidntRaiseMyBoyToBeASoldierCoverMorton.jpeg, ''I Didn't Raise My Boy To Be A Soldier'' 1915 sheet music cover, with photo of singer Eddie Morton

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