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.[1]

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."[2]

In the 1930s influential theologian Reinhold Niebuhr rejected overly idealist pacifism as "perverse sentimentality," in favor of just war.[3]

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.[2]

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).[4]

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

References

  1. United States Institute of Peace. "Pacifism". Glossary. Washington DC. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  2. Ness 2004.
  3. Colm Mckeogh (1997). "Neibuhr's Critique of Pacifism". Political Realism of Reinhold Niebuhr: A Pragmatic Approach to Just War. St. Martin's Press. pp. 22+. ISBN 978-1-349-25891-8.
  4. "Peace Movements in New York". Advocate of Peace. 5. 1844.

Bibliography

Published in 20th century

1990s

2000s

2010s

  • Martin Folly; Niall Palmer (2010). "Pacifism". Historical Dictionary of U.S. Diplomacy from World War I through World War II. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7376-6.
  • Lara Leigh Kelland (2010). "Peace Movements". In Robert D. Johnston (ed.). Encyclopedia of U.S. Political History. 4: From the Gilded Age through Age of Reform, 1878 to 1920. CQ Press. pp. 271–274. ISBN 9781604266474. OCLC 462906611.

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