Next+Stop+is+Vietnam

The Vietnam War defined an American generation, and it transformed the American cultural and political landscape. America entered the 1960's comfortable in its role as protectors of the free world. It had a young and vibrant President and First Lady. It was making strides in the space race as well as in Civil Rights. By the time it withdrew from Vietnam, America was divided at home, battered abroad, and entirely frustrated. To make matters worse, it had a president who caused most Americans to mistrust the government (and with good reason).

The sources below will help you to better understand why the Vietnam War is such a powerful topic to Americans even today. It will help you to understand how the world's mightiest military machine was unable to defeat a movement within Southeast Vietnam. In the end, students studying the Vietnam War must must ask whether American involvement in Vietnam did more harm or good to the people of South Vietnam.

For each file (except for the PBS timeline) there is a "Consider the Following" question or questions designed for you to think critically about each file. You are tasked with answering these Consider the Following questions thoughtfully, and then submit your response(s) to me for credit. You are encouraged to use this resource file in your free time, either in school or at home.

media type="youtube" key="HJzMT752kU4" width="560" height="315" Click here to see the PBS Battlefield: Vietnam timeline. (web based) The Vietnam War is general timeline will help you keep events leading up to, during, and after the Vietnam War straight. Check in with it from time to time, and use it as a reference point.
 * PBS Battlefield: Vietnam Timeline**
 * Readability: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 6.3**

Crash Course is a humorous yet accurate look back at world history. Click hereto watch a video which places the Vietnam War into a larger context of nationalistic quests for independence from colonialism which took over the world during the Cold War. While you watch, consider the following: What was the upside of decolonization for these countries? What were some downsides?
 * Crash Course: Decolonization and Nationalism Triumphant: Crash Course World History #40** (unique)

Read Chapter 18 of iconic historian (yes, they exist) Howard Zinn's masterpiece: //The People's History of the United States.// Click here to read chapter 18, and while you do, consider the following: Why does Zinn feel that victory in Vietnam was impossible for Americans?
 * The Impossible Victory: Vietnam ** by Howard Zinn (text)
 * Readability: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level:10.5**

The war in 1967 had been dragging on and Vietcong tactics were taking their toll on U.S. ground forces. Skim this training manual which was given to new recruits in 1967. You are NOT expected to read the entire thing. Instead, select one of the 6 sections, and focus on that. As you read through the section, consider the following: What material does the Vietcong use in making their weapons? Do any of them surprise you? What would you tell new recruits heading to Vietnam about how they can better survive these types of attacks?
 * Vietcong Tactics Training Guide: Published by the United States Army in May 1967** (text)
 * Readability: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 6.8 **

What is a war without tactics? Click here and begin to understand in what ways Americans and the North Vietcong waged war. As you read, consider the following: compare and contrast what tactics each army used. What could be done to defend against or neutralize those tactics?
 * BBC - GCSE Bitesize: Vietcong and American Tactics** (web based)
 * Readability: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 9.3 **

Click hereto watch a clip (Battle at Ia Drang) from the //National Geographic// documentary. As you watch, consider the following: In what way is America responsible for the Vietnam War?
 * National Geographic: Inside Vietnam** (unique)

Explore hundreds more political cartoons dealing with the Vietnam War by clicking here. As you explore, consider the following: What opposing messages in these cartoons?
 * The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists- Political Cartoons** (unique)

Click hereto watch a clip (Battle at Ia Drang) from the // National Geographic // documentary. As you watch, consider the following: In what way is America responsible for the Vietnam War?
 * National Geographic: Inside Vietnam** (unique)

Click here to go to the Amazon.com page for this graphic and unapologetic book which recounts in detail how the American role in Vietnam meant for the average villager living in South and North Vietnam. As you read, consider the following: In what way did American tactics mean devastation to Vietnamese civilians that they were there to defend? Did it have to be this way? What could have been done differently?
 * //Kill Anything that Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam// ** by Nick Turse (text) (GRAPHIC CONTENT)
 * Readability: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 11.3 **

Click here to go to the Amazon.com page for the book that courageously and candidly tells how soldiers who fought in Vietnam had their lives forever changed. It is a great book to read for students who wish to better understand the "invisible wounds" of war, especially post-traumatic stress disorder.
 * //Autopsy of War: A Personal Histo// **// **ry** // by John A. Parrish, M.D. (text)
 * Readability: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 8.3**

Click here and take some time to scan through these poems. all written by Vietnam veterans themselves, their family members, or medical professionals who worked with them. When you come across a title that interests you, read the poem. This is a great way to hear from the people who lived through the Vietnam War experience. Poetry is very personal, and for these veterans it seems to be the only way they can safely and comfortably tell their story. Select a poem that you especially like, and read it again. As you read. consider the following: What is the purpose of this poem? Why do you think the author wrote this poem?
 * Vietnam** **War Stories: Library of Vietnam Poetry** **Collections** (web based)
 * Readability: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 7-12**

Click here to watch a CBS new broadcast covering the Tet Offensive: a coordinated surprise attack against major cities throughout South Vietnam. It took the war from the jungles and countryside into the major cities, which until now had been safe havens for U.S. army personnel. This video is graphic, and shows dead bodies. If you wish, you may only listen to the audio portion of the video. As you watch this news broadcast, consider the following: How is the Tet Offensive different from previous North Vietnamese/Vietcong tactics? How do you think this new tactic would change American military and civilian psyche going forward with the war?
 * CBS report on the Tet Offensive in Saigon (1968) ** (web based) (GRAPHIC IMAGES)


 * Iconic Woodstock: A Photographer Looks Back - Video - TIME.c **** om ** (unique)
 * Click here ** to watch a short video which blends photography, music, and primary source narration into a cool tribute to the "Summer of Love." As you watch, consider the following: In what ways does photography improve our understanding of historical events?

Click here to watch Youtube clip which analyzes President Richard Nixon's top advisers advice that it may be more politically viable to extend the war an extra year, rather than ending it in 1971. Feel free to watch the rest of the episodes. As you watch, consider the following: Do politics influence war more than war influences politics?
 * Fatal Politics: The Nixon Tapes, Vietnam and the Biggest Republican Presidential Landslid, Episode One: Secret Timetable ** (web based)

Click here to go to a web page dedicated to music of the 60's. The site has samples to hundreds of songs and audio clips from the Vietnam War era. Some songs are for the war, while other songs are opposed to the War. As you explore, consider the following: In what way are some of these songs are just as applicable today as they were over 40 years ago? Give some examples and explain your reasoning.
 * //Next Stop is Vietnam: The War on Record.// CD Anthology** (unique)

Click here to read the opening chapter to Jeffrey Record's thorough book analyzing multiple aspects surrounding the Vietnam War. As you read, consider the following: Do you agree with Record? Was America doomed to lose the Vietnam War? What mistakes were made by both civilian and military leaders which led to ultimate defeat? What would you have done differently? ** Readability: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 12 **
 * The Wrong War: Why We Lost in Vietnam ** by Jeffrey Record (text)

By Kevin Larrow