Vietnam War

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Vietnam War

by Mr. M

Jun 1, 2013

Any US history teachers have a unique way of introducing the Vietnam War? Would appreciate a great 'hook.' Thanks in advance.

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Sara On 6/02/13, Mr. M wrote: > On 6/02/13, Connect it to World War II wrote: >> On 6/02/13, Sara wrote: >>> On 6/01/13, Mr. M wrote: >>>> Any US history teachers have a unique way of introducing the >>>> Vietnam War? Would appreciate a great 'hook.' Thanks in >>>> advance. >>> >>> ...See More

Jun 6, 2013

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Also, and this is very relevant to current US policies On 6/06/13, Sara wrote: > On 6/02/13, Mr. M wrote: >> On 6/02/13, Connect it to World War II wrote: >>> On 6/02/13, Sara wrote: >>>> On 6/01/13, Mr. M wrote: >>>>> Any US history teachers have a unique way of introducing the >>>>> Vietnam War? Would appreciate a great 'hook.' Thanks in >...See MoreOn 6/06/13, Sara wrote: > On 6/02/13, Mr. M wrote: >> On 6/02/13, Connect it to World War II wrote: >>> On 6/02/13, Sara wrote: >>>> On 6/01/13, Mr. M wrote: >>>>> Any US history teachers have a unique way of introducing the >>>>> Vietnam War? Would appreciate a great 'hook.' Thanks in >>>>> advance. >>>> >>>> >>>> I like choices and reflective thinking - particularly for the >>>> Vietnam War I ask questions like - if you could change the >>>> past, would you have our country fight this war again? >>Everything you say below seems like a great hook to me. >>> what more do you need? > > Given everything, should we have supported theFrench? Should we have > feared communism? Can an idea be contained by armies? > > >>> >>> Basically, the US entered Vietnam to support our French "allies," >>> who'd gotten their butts kicked at the battle of Dien Bien Phu. >>> >>> Having swiftly knuckled under to the Nazis in WWII, France lost >>> its colonial control of Indochina to Japan. After the war, the >>> French expected to waltz back into the region and reassert their >>> dominance. (They were white, after all, so they assumed the >>> Natural Order of things would be on their side.) >>> >>> The locals, however, had other ideas. Boom, pow, bye-bye arrogant >>> Frenchies! >>> >>> President Eisenhower was appalled, and started sending government >>> agents in to try and undermine "The Communist Threat," a.k.a. >>> little Asian people who wanted to run their own country. >>> >>> The rest is history. >>> >>>

To what extent SHOULD a large, powerful country be stepping in to involve itself in the affairs of less powerful countries?

US bombing and other military activity in Vietnam and Cambodia took a huge toll on the landscape and the local villages. When the American troops ultimately pulled out altogether, the entire region was left in a state of chaos. For any known or suspected to have supported the US soldiers, there was hell to pay. Pol Pot took advantage of ths situation, declaring it Year Zero in Cambodia, and his Khmer Rouge quickly established a psychotic rendition of Communism that was far more horrible than anything that would have happened if our country had simply stayed home and tended its own roses.

Jun 7, 2013

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Patty On 6/01/13, Mr. M wrote: > Any US history teachers have a unique way of introducing the > Vietnam War? Would appreciate a great 'hook.' Thanks in > advance.

Perhaps you could have them write their ideas on the war (opinions, views, knowledge, etc.), in a journal entry format. This could also serve as a good pre-test to see what th...See More

Jun 11, 2013

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Ken On 6/02/13, Connect it to World War II wrote: > On 6/02/13, Sara wrote: >> On 6/01/13, Mr. M wrote: >>> Any US history teachers have a unique way of introducing the >>> Vietnam War? Would appreciate a great 'hook.' Thanks in >>> advance. >> >> >> I like choices and reflective thinking - particul...See MoreOn 6/02/13, Connect it to World War II wrote: > On 6/02/13, Sara wrote: >> On 6/01/13, Mr. M wrote: >>> Any US history teachers have a unique way of introducing the >>> Vietnam War? Would appreciate a great 'hook.' Thanks in >>> advance. >> >> >> I like choices and reflective thinking - particularly for the >> Vietnam War I ask questions like - if you could change the >> past, would you have our country fight this war again? >> >> And/ or - it's easy these days with a bit of Internet research >> to find out the approximate cost of the war in dollars as >> well as lives. World War II is estimated to have cost three >> trillion dollars. >> >> find out what the Vietnam war cost and ask - was this money >> well spent? Did this war warrant those funds, not to mention >> the lives... >> >> These kids will be taxpayers soon. >> >> I love the documentary on all the controversy about the >> memorial wall ... I forget the title but the young >> architect's name was Maya Lin - you'll see veterans very >> angry about that wall and eventually a second memorial had to >> built to appease them. >> >> show the documentary and ask them which is the better, more >> truthful memorial > > > Basically, the US entered Vietnam to support our French "allies," > who'd gotten their butts kicked at the battle of Dien Bien Phu. > > Having swiftly knuckled under to the Nazis in WWII, France lost > its colonial control of Indochina to Japan. After the war, the > French expected to waltz back into the region and reassert their > dominance. (They were white, after all, so they assumed the > Natural Order of things would be on their side.) > > The locals, however, had other ideas. Boom, pow, bye-bye arrogant > Frenchies! > > President Eisenhower was appalled, and started sending government > agents in to try and undermine "The Communist Threat," a.k.a. > little Asian people who wanted to run their own country. > > The rest is history. >

I hope you're not a teacher with this response. If you are, you need to do some research. The French were gone when the US got involved under Kennedy.

Sep 8, 2013

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Genius of the Wabash Life magazine June 27 1969

Oct 24, 2013

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