Vietnam War

Although the Vietnam War ended long ago, questions about it continue to haunt the American people. What, for example, did the United States hope to accomplish in Vietnam? Why did America commit so much of its resources to a region of the world where it seemingly had so little interest? How did a poorly armed guerrilla army thwart the most powerful nation in the world? This course addresses these questions by examining (1) brief history of the Vietnamese people, (2) how the United States became involved in Vietnam, (3) historical interpretations of the involvement, (4) how America & Vietnam fought the war, (5) personal accounts by those involved with the war, (6) antiwar movement and (7) how the war ended. Cross-listed with HI 341. Offered alternate years.