HI 385 - Vietnam War

This course focuses on American involvement in Vietnam from 1954 to 1975, though we will also discuss events before and after this period. Students should note that this is not a course in military history. We will discuss military events, but we will also take a broader view of the conflict. Topics will include the reasons for American intervention in Vietnam, the experiences of people involved in the conflict, the viability of the South Vietnamese state, the causes of America’s defeat (and North Vietnam’s victory), responses on the home front, the war in American memory, and political consequences of the war. The course will consist of lectures and discussions. Readings will include historical monographs, memoirs, primary sources, and literary materials.

Four credits.