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COURSE OUTLINE - THE DILEMMA OF

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The has had a lasting effect on our society, and this semester length course for juniors and seniors will study all aspects of the American involvement in that war. The major emphasis of the course will be on the war - its causes and beginnings, its execution, and its results. American reaction at home to the war will be examined. Special attention will be paid to the plight of the . The course will provide the opportunity for students to develop an understanding of the conflict between Vietnamese nationalism and the United States’ long commitment to prevent the spread of communism in this Southeast Asian country. Extensive use will be made of audio-visual materials from the war’s era and materials found on the Internet.

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COURSE PROFICIENCIES

Other than the general proficiencies that are expected of students in classroom situations, it is expected that students in the course will achieve the following goals: 1. To develop an understanding of the history and culture of Vietnam. 2. To become aware of the French presence in Indo-China. 3. To become familiar with the Geneva Conference that was held following the demise of the French in Indo-China. 4. To examine early American involvement and the establishment of the Diem regime in Vietnam. 5. To be able to discuss the series of events that caused a Vietnamese civil conflict to become an American war. 6. To demonstrate a basic knowledge of the opposing military strategies in the war. 7. To study the various military campaigns that developed during the course of the war. 8. To develop an understanding of the various processes that led to a negotiated cease fire and the total withdrawal of American troops. 9. To examine the North Vietnamese victory and the nation of Vietnam as it is today. 10. To become familiar with the plight of the Vietnam veteran.

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I. Vietnam: An Introduction

A. The land 1. climate 2. geography 3. population B. Vietnam and the outside world 1. China 2. Portugal 3. The Netherlands C. Names for Vietnam 1. Viet 2. Nam 3. Annam 4. Tonkin 5. Vietnam 6. Cochin China D. The French in Vietnam 1. By 1860 the French were well on their way to controlling Vietnam 2. French control the area until 1940 3. Ho Chi Minh and Vietnamese nationalism 4. Japanese in Vietnam during World War II 5. 1945 - start of first war for independence 6. Dien Bien Phu 7. Geneva Conference II. America’s Commitment to the War (1954 - 1965)

A. Geneva Accords of 1954 1. North and 2. 1956 elections B. The Diem regime begins 1. 2. Diem’s referendum 3. Harsh and authoritarian rule 4. Formation of the National Liberations Front (Viet Cong)

C. Early American involvement 1. Firm American backing for Diem 2. 1961 - first American military “advisers” and increased military aid

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D. Diem regime in trouble 1. Diem’s advisers 2. Buddhist opposition to Diem 3. Loss of American confidence 4. Military coup and assassination of Diem E. South Vietnamese instability 1. No government survives without American support 2. 1964 - Gulf of Tonkin Resolution 3. 1965 - strategic bombing of 4. Emergence of Nguyen Van Thieu and Nguyen Cao Ky III. The United States Takes Charge (1965 - 1968)

A. President Johnson goes to war

1. First United States ground troops 2. The war expands B. Military strategies 1. United States 2. South Vietnam 3. North Vietnam C. The continuing war 1. Bombing of North Vietnam 2. Phoenix Program (1967) - pacification a. Free fire zones b. Search and destroy missions c. 3. U.S. firepower 4. General Westmoreland commands U.S. troops 5. 6. D. The search for peace 1. President Johnson announces halt to bombing of North Vietnam and decision not to run for office again 2. Start of Paris peace talks

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IV. Mr. Nixon Takes Over (1968 - 1975)

A. 1. “Honorable” end 2. Increasing reliance on South Vietnamese troops 3. Morale problems with the American troops B. Military action during the period 1. Invasion of 2. incursion 3. The Easter offensive and American reaction 4. North Vietnamese army takes over burden from weakened Viet Cong C. Military stalemate and diplomatic breakthrough 1. By fall of 1972 there was a state of military stalemate 2. President Nixon’s dilemma 3. Henry Kissinger negotiates a cease fire agreement 4. The Thieu government resists D. The Paris Accords 1. North Vietnamese troops could remain in place 2. Viet Cong officially recognized by the United States and South Vietnam 3. United States would withdraw troops 4. America was permitted to continue military aid to the Thieu government E. North Vietnamese Victory 1. Constant violations of the accords 2. acts to stop reinvolvement of America 3. South Vietnamese government on its own 4. North Vietnamese initiative of 1975 5. April 30, 1975 - Saigon falls V. The War At Home

A. Early resistance to the war 1. Teach-ins begin - 1965 2. U.S. Senate questions the war - 1966 3. Anti-war demonstrations and marches begin - 1965 B. Dissent increases 1. More and larger demonstrations 2. Eugene McCarthy, Robert Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey

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C. The Nixon years 1. Nixon elected, resistance continues 2. 500,000 march on Washington - 1970 3. Students killed during protest against Cambodian incursion 4. published 5. Last U.S. combat soldiers leave Vietnam - 1973

D. Vietnam and the arts

1. Music a. “Eve of Destruction” - Barry McGuire b. “7 O'clock News/Silent Night” - Simon and Garfunkel c. “I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag” - Country Joe McDonald d. “Ballad of the Green Berets” - Barry Sadler e. “An Open Letter To A Teenage Son” - Victor Lundberg f. “Okie From Muskogee” - Merle Haggard g. “Draft Dodger Rag” - Phil Ochs h. “Give peace A Chance” - John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band i. “Who’ll Stop The Rain” - Credence Clearwater Revival j. “I Saw It On TV” - John Fogerty 2. Films a. Coming Home b. The Green Berets c. The Deer Hunter d. Apocalypse Now e. Platoon f. Hamburger Hill g. Born On The Fourth Of July h. Full Metal Jacket

3. Literature a. The Thirteenth Valley - John M. Del Vecchio b. The Green Berets - Robin Moore c. The Quiet American - Graham Greene d. The Short-Timers - Gustav Harsford e. Fields of Fire - James Webb, Jr. f. First Blood - David Morrell

VI. The Legacy of Vietnam

A. The plight of the Vietnam veteran 1. Less than hero’s welcome 2. Residual effects of war 3. Agent and resulting court cases 4. Vietnam Memorial

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B. Vietnam today 1. Independent 2. Poor 3. A country in search of itself 4. Diplomatic recognition by the U.S.A.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

There will not be a textbook for this course. Student readings will be culled from the following, as well as other sources. These are just some of the sources that will be used in the development of the course content. 1. Baker, Mark - Nam: The Vietnam War in the Words of the Men and Women Who Fought There - New York: Berkley Books, 1981

2. Cohen, Steven - Vietnam: Anthology and Guide to a Television History - New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1983 3. Goldman, Peter and Fuller, Tony - Charlie Company: What Vietnam Did to Us - New York: William Morrow and Company, 1983 4. Karnow, Stanley - Vietnam - New York: Viking Press, 1983

5. Kovic, Ron - Born on the 4th of July - New York: Pocket Books, 1977

6. Palmer, Bruce, Jr. (General, U.S. Army) - The 25-Year War: America’s Military Role in Vietnam - New York: Simon and Schuster, 1985

7. Salisbury, Harrison E., Ed. - Vietnam Reconsidered: Lessons From A War - New York: Harper and Row, Publishers, 1984 8. Santoli, Al - Everything We Had: An Oral History of the Vietnam War by Thirty- Three American Soldiers Who Fought It - Ballantine Books, 1981

RESOURCES

1. Audio-visual materials a. Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War, a 13-part series, gives an excellent overview of the period. b. There are numerous video tapes that deal with the plight of the Vietnam veteran and the situation in Vietnam today. c. There are a number of videos, including AIM’s The Impact of Media, which offer critiques of the war from various viewpoints. 2. Guest speakers a. There are many people living in the immediate area who were involved in the conflict. The class would benefit by inviting such people to share their experiences and views concerning the war. b. College professors who specialize in the field could provide interesting insights.

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SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

The following skills will be utilized during this course: 1. Reading 2. Composition 3. Note-taking 4. Map reading 5. Speech 6. Critical evaluation of viewpoints and opinions 7. Use of technology including the computer and Internet

STUDENT EVALUATION 1. Quizzes 2. Tests 3. Homework assignments - 20% of marking period grade as per Board policy 4. Class participation 5. Book reports 6. Internet and computer usage 7. Map work 8. Work sheets 9. Final exams - 20% of final grade as per Board policy 10. Alternate assessment a. group projects and reports b. individual oral presentations 11. Research projects and papers

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