Full Description
The Vietnam War tells the story of one of the most divisive episodes in modern American history through primary sources, ranging from government documents, news reports, speeches, popular songs to memoirs, writings by Vietnam veterans (including coauthor John Fitzgerald), and poetry by Vietnamese and Americans on matching themes. The book begins in the 19th century when Vietnam became a French colony, and traces the insidious route by which the United States became involved in a war on the other side of the world.
Contents
What is a Document? ; How to Read a Document ; A Little History, By Way of Introduction ; Chapter One: The First Indochina War ; Vietnam Approaches America ; America Responds ; Chapter Two: Waist Deep in the Big Muddy ; A Temporary Peace ; Eisenhower's Vietnam ; Kennedy's War ; Chapter Three: America's War ; The War Expands ; The Public Debate ; Chapter Four: Picture Essay: Selling Patriotism ; Chapter Five: Going to War ; Soldiers at War ; Other Voices ; The Condition of the Army ; Chapter Six: A People Divided ; The African-American Community ; Opposition within the Military ; Chapter Seven: Nixon's War ; My Lai ; The Nixon Doctrine ; Bombing Hanoi to the Bargaining table ; Chapter Eight: After the War ; Looking Back ; Legacies ; Timeline ; Glossary ; Further Reading and Websites ; Text Credits ; Picture Credits ; Index