POLS (HIST) 4720U - Course Overview

May be considered UGA equivalent at the discretion of student's academic department.

When registering for this course, be sure to indicate either HIST 4720U or POLS 4720U, but not both.

A comprehensive study of America's longest war, emphasizing the historical background, political decisions, military strategy/tactics, and legacy associated with the conflict.

Instructor: W. Clifton Wilkinson, Jr., M.P.A., J.D., Georgia College and State University.

Texts and Materials: Caputo, A Rumor of War, Henry Holt, 1996; Herring, America's Longest War - The United States and Vietnam, 1950-1975, 4th ed., McGraw-Hill, 2002; McMahon, ed., Major Problems in the History of the Vietnam War, 3d ed., Houghton Mifflin, 2003; POLS 4720U course packet.

Course Overview

Introduction

This course is open to all students; you need not be a political science major. The only recommendation is that you should have studied U.S. government, U.S. history, or world history in some introductory form. However, if you are motivated and interested, you can do quite well in this course even if you have no background in government or history whatsoever.

This course will present a thorough treatment of the most controversial and longest war in U.S. political history. It is designed to meet a number of educational objectives regarding the Vietnam conflict:

1. understanding the historical background of the conflict so as to clarify U.S. objectives and military tactics;

2. tracing important cultural and political patterns in Vietnamese history;

3. explaining the role of U.S. presidents and their advisers in making those crucial decisions affecting the conduct and evolution of the war;

4. understanding the role of domestic opinion, i.e., patterns of support and dissension, which affected the war’s outcome;

5. gaining insight into the nature of combat for the U.S. soldier;

6. reflecting upon and examining closely the "lessons" of the war;

7. understanding the role of the media in influencing the war’s outcome.

Textbooks

The Caputo paperback, A Rumor of War, is an unforgettable, true story of what combat in Vietnam was like for a lieutenant in the Marine Corps. The McMahon-edited work, Major Problems in the History of the Vietnam War, contains original documents and essays which touch upon the "roots of the American commitment," Vietnamese nationalism, the U.S. presidential decision which deepened the need for more troops and economic resources, U.S. military strategy, the differences between North and South Vietnam, the role of U.S. public opinion and the media, and the "lessons" of Vietnam, especially as those lessons influence present and future U.S. foreign policies and possible interventions. The textbook by Herring, America’s Longest War, 1950-1975, covers the historical events and political decisions of those twenty-five years. It also deals with the legacy of Vietnam in subsequent decades.

In addition to the textbooks, there is a packet of assigned readings available through MBS Direct Textbooks that may be purchased at online, by phone, or by mail. In the packet you’ll find the Fromkin and Chace article, "What Are the Lessons of Vietnam?" from Foreign Affairs. It provides an excellent summary as to why experts continue to differ over the meaning of the war for present and future generations of Americans.

Collectively, all of these readings will present a relatively complete picture of the war’s complexity and diverse interpretations.

About the Lessons

This course consists of ten lessons and a final examination. Each of the ten lessons counts approximately five percent of the total course grade.

Double-spaced, typed lessons are preferred. If, however, this is not possible, hand-written lessons will be accepted, but they must be legible and in ink. Put your name at the top of each page. Prepare your lessons in the following manner:

1. Read the questions for the Written Assignment.

2. Complete the Reading Assignment and read the Discussion section in this course guide.

3. After reading the text in connection with the lesson, close the book and answer the questions in your own words.

4. If there are questions that you cannot answer, reread the text and try again.

5. Avoid copying directly from the text. Copying may result in a failing grade for that particular lesson. Of course, short quotes from the text are permissible if they are clearly marked as such.

6. Organize your answers carefully. Write logically and to the point. Do not ramble. However, make certain to include enough information in your answers to show that you understand what the question is about.