THE HISTORY OF THE VIETNAM WAR (05438-2) (Monday)
SYLLABUS
Dr. Lee Bruce Kress
Spring 2010
History Department
Robinson Hall
Office Hrs: M: 11-12:30,
5-6, W: 3:30-4:30, and
R by appt.
256-4500, ext. 3987
Lbkress@rowan.edu
GOALS AND PROCEDURES:
This course presents a review and analysis of America’s involvement in Vietnam. The course will
mainly cover the years from 1950 to 1975, as well as a discussion of the background and aftermath of the
conflict in southeast Asia. Its purpose is to foster an understanding of the reasons and influences of the war
of the life of both countries and the world. Among the issues to be covered are the formation and growth of
the American policy; the strategies, tactics, and weaponry of leading engagements; the personalities and
contributions of political and military leaders; and the social and economic role of the war in national
development. It is assumed that the student has some prior knowledge of general American history and the
history of the Cold War period. It may be necessary, therefore, for you to review your notes or textbooks
from earlier courses in order to be prepared.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ATTENDANCE POLICY:
The requirements for this course include brief geography quiz, which is worth about 10 percent of
your semester grade, a mid-term examination, a research term paper, and a final examination, which will
each count about 30 percent. Examinations will consist largely of identification items and essays, and you
will get to select from a choice of questions presented in each category. There also will be opportunities
for extra credit. Class sessions will consist of lectures, discussions, and some videos. All students are
expected to prepare the assigned readings in advance of class, to participate in all class discussions, and to
give brief reports on the progress of their research. Failure to take part adequately in classroom activities
and discussions may affect your grade.
Consistent attendance is also expected, and attendance will be taken in every class. You are
allowed two absences for any reason whatsoever and you do not have to provide me with any excuse; on
the other hand, you will lose a point from your final average for every absence beyond two and almost no
excuse will be acceptable. Therefore, you would be wise to save up your absences since you never know
when situations will arise that may cause you to miss class.
Unless verifiable evidence of an emergency excuse is presented, such as a physician’s note
testifying to illness, all examinations and written assignments must be completed at the time stated on this
syllabus. Otherwise you will automatically receive a grade of a zero for that test or paper.
Your academic success is important. If you have a disability or medical condition that may have
an impact on your work in this class, please contact me. Students also need to provide documentation of
their disability to the Center for Academic Success in Savitz Hall in order to receive official University
services and accommodations. Please come to see me in my office hours or at other times that are
mutually agreeable if I can help you in any way with this course. Also use e-mail or voice mail to maintain
contact.
Final grades will not be posted and cannot be obtained by calling or e-mailing me or the History
Department. However, they can be obtained from the Registrar by the Banner system. See the Rowan
Spring Schedule booklet for details. Additionally, at the time of the final examination if you will provide
me with a stamped, self-addressed business-sized envelope, I will mail your graded exam to you along with
your semester grade. Alternately, if you provide a stamped postal card, I will just indicate your semester
grade. Official semester grades on a transcript can be obtained from the Registrar on request after the end
of the semester.
TEXTBOOKS:
Herring, George C., America’s Longest War: The United States and Vietnam, 1950-1975.
4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2002.
McMahon, Robert J. and Thomas Paterson, eds. Major Problems in the History of Vietnam War:
Documents and Essays. 4th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin/Cengage Learning, 2008.
Caputo, Philip, A Rumor of War: With a Twentieth Anniversary Postscript by the Author. New
York: Henry Holt, 1996.
ASSIGNMENTS: (by week)
I.
Background and Communist Threat
Founding of the Cominform, (1945) (See Issues homepage for document)
Winston Churchill, “Sinews of Peace” (Iron Curtain) Speech, (1946),
http://www.hpol.org//churchill/
NSC-68, (1950) only Parts I-VA, and Conclusions,
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/nsc68.htm
Excerpts from Chinese Communist Publication, (1960) (See Vietnam Syllabus
homepage for document)
McMahon, Chapter 2
II.
Roots of American Commitment
McMahon, Chapter 3
III.
Geography Quiz. Feb. 8
Term Paper Proposal and Tentative Thesis due: Feb. 8
First Indochina War, 1950-1954
Herring, Chapter 1
McMahon, Chapter 4
IV.
Eisenhower and the Development of South Vietnam
Herring, Chapter 2
McMahon, Chapter 4
The Enemy: North Vietnam and Vietcong
McMahon, Chapter 9
V.
Kennedy Administration
Herring, Chapter 3
McMahon, Chapter 5
The Ally: South Vietnam
McMahon, Chapter 11
VI.
Preliminary Bibliography due: March 1
Johnson Administration, Part I, 1963-64
Herring, Chapter 4
McMahon, Chapter 6
VII.
Midterm Examination: March 10
Caputo
VIII.
Johnson Administration, Part 2 1965
Herring, Chapter 5
McMahon, Chapter 7, pp. 171-204
IX.
X.
Preliminary Paper Outlines due: March 22
Johnson Administration, Part 3, 1966-67
Herring, Chapter 5, pp. 204-223
McMahon, Chapter 8
Johnson Administration, Part 4, 1968
Herring, Chapter 6
McMahon, Chapter 10
XI.
Nixon Administration, Part 1, 1969-1970
Herring, Chapter 7, pp. 271-283
McMahon, Chapter 12
XII.
American Homefront
Herring, Chapter 7, pp. 283-310
McMahon, Chapter 13
XIII.
Nixon Administration, Part 2, 1971-1972
Herring, Chapter 7, pp. 310-320
McMahon, Chapter 13
XIV.
Term Paper due: April 19
Paris Peace Accords and Fall of Indochina, 1973-1975
McMahon, Chapter 14
Aftermath
Herring, Chapter 8
McMahon, Chapter 15
XV.
Final Examination: Week of May 4