The Vietnam War created deep rifts in American society and in the history profession. While no one disputes the facts of what happened, the meaning of this war is strongly contested from multiple directions. Was this a “war of choice” or part of the “existential” Cold War? Did America lose because it is impossible to win a people’s war, because we failed to allow the military to do its job, or because counterinsurgency was never given a real chance? Was American involvement in Vietnam an occupation and imperialism or at the behest of a government in South Vietnam that was invaded from the north? These and other questions have not gone away and the war in Vietnam continues to affect American foreign policy—and Americans in general—today. To understand the effect that the Vietnam War has had on the U.S., this course will begin with a deep look at the three wars in Vietnam. We will then examine how the war was interpreted and used by various sections within American society, including political parties, academic factions, military professionals, and national security experts, to support their own preferred policies and undermine the policies of their opponents. We will conclude by looking at how the Vietnam War is affecting the U.S. military, academy, and foreign policy today.

COURSE FORMAT
This is an interactive online seminar course that meets weekly over 8 weeks. Live online sessions will use the zoom platform. Weekly reading or other forms of materials may be assigned. Weekly sessions will be recorded and available for registered participants to access throughout the course.
There are no papers or grades. This course does not offer any credits or certificates. This course is intended for learning for the love of learning.


COURSE MATERIALS
Read at your leisure these two books about Vietnam:
Gordon M. Goldstein, Lessons In Disaster
Lewis Sorley, A Better War
Additional readings will be provided by the professor.
Registrants will receive access to the course website and the zoom links about two weeks before the course starts.

COURSE CANCELLATION POLICY
Registrants can cancel and receive a full refund up to May 19. After May 19, there will be no refunds issued.
Yale Alumni College courses are subject to schedule changes as well as cancellations. If Yale Alumni College must cancel any course prior to its start due to low enrollment, you will be notified of this by the cancellation date. Upon cancellation of a course, registrants may transfer their registration to another available course or have the registration fee fully refunded.

In the event of a disruption to the original course schedule, including but not limited to; Professor absence, hazardous weather conditions, or local travel restrictions, Yale Alumni College will do its best to reschedule the missed class for the week immediately following the original end date at the same course time and day.