The course will be arranged around "issues," topics for discussion and reflection which involve larger questions about the war. These issues are considered central to an understanding of the Vietnam War. The intent is to cover one issue per week during the term. Students should do the assigned readings (including the web resources under military operations where noted) and participate in the discussion on the shared bulletin board. The questions listed under each issue should not be considered as the limits to any discussion, but rather as a point of departure. Click on each issue for further information. Check the syllabus for the precise weekly schedule.
The Cold War, Colonialism, and Communism in Southeast Asia
How and why did the U.S. get involved in Vietnam?
The American presence I: U.S. advisors
Problems surrounding the South Vietnamese government
The Tonkin Gulf Incident and its ramifications
The American presence II: U.S. combat troops
The American presence III: The air war