Many people today dont realize the impact that the vietnam war had on the world then and on our world today. It escalated from a vietnamese civil war into a limited international conflict in which the united states was deeply involved, and did not end. For all of the selfsatisfied voyeurism surrounding the vietnam war, its hard to find a concrete idea about why the u. As american military intervention in vietnam ramped up in the early 1960s, u. As historian qiang zhai documents in china and the vietnam wars, 19501975. American history, university of cambridge, clare college, cambridge. Request pdf on jan 1, 2010, martin grossheim and others published vietnam. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library.
America officially lost the vietnam war 40 years ago this. The pentagon papers was the name given to a topsecret department of defense study of u. Secondly, we didnt know our south vietnamese allies. Required reading gary hess, kennedy exceptionalism or zmissed opportunity for peace or lost victory. Comprehensive yet concise, americaa s longest war provides a complete and balanced history of the vietnam war. Explaining americas lost war is an awardwinning historiography of this seminal conflict of the 20 th century. The vietnam war was a conflict, which the united states involved itself in unnecessarily and ultimately lost. The communist north vietnam was not going to attack american shores with nuclear bombs, but the integrity, honor and reputation of the united states was in jeopardy. Capitalism, yet the conduct of the vietnam war was complex and strategic, and brought repercussions which had never been seen before. Vietname war vietnam war the vietnam war was starting in 1965 and ending in 1975. In a longawaited alternative to the lengthy and overly expensive texts on the vietnam war, charles neu presents americas lost war, a balanced, lively narrative account of that tragic conflict, one that sweeps across the whole timespan of the war and.
The irony is that had that pilot had his way america would have lost so much more that just the vietnam war. America lost the vietnam war for a very simple reason. Formed by vietnam veterans in 1989 with a mission to collect and preserve the documentary record of the vietnam war. The vietnam war article 1960s america khan academy. Vietnam war casualties 1955 1975 america paid a terrible price for its involvement in the vietnam war nearly 60,000 killedinaction, over 150,000 wounded, and some 1,600 missing. This was disputed by americas most decorated officer of that war, col. We are taught that it was a resounding loss for america, one that proves. Explaining americas lost war is an awardwinning historiography of one of the, isbn 9781118948996. May 02, 2008 clearly examines the historiography of the vietnam war questions whether the vietnam war was lost due to poor strategy and leadership, or was in vietnam, gary r. Remembering vietnam is an exhibit at the national archives in washington, dc, on display from november 10, 2017, through february 28, 2019, featuring records related to 12 critical episodes in the vietnam war.
Clearly examines the historiography of the vietnam war questions whether the vietnam war was lost due to poor strategy and leadership, or was inherently doomed to failure. Read cnn s vietnam war fast facts and learn more about the. Looks at many facets of vietnam war, examining central arguments of scholars, journalists, and participants and providing evidence on both sides of controversies around this event. Now available in a revised and updated second edition, vietnam. Why the us lost the vietnam war common dreams views. If the french period is counted in, the war in vietnam delayed a communist takeover. While there are limitations imposed by the format of hesss book it is. The year 2015 marks the 50 th anniversary of the americanization of the vietnam war, a subject that has sparked intense and enduring debate. It is not mainly a military history, but seeks to integrate military, diplomatic, and political factors in order to clarify americaa s involvement and ultimate failure in vietnam. The vietnam war had great political impact and led to deep division within australian society. Explaining americas lost war is an awardwinning historiography of one of the 20 th centurys seminal conflicts. The us became involved overtly in 1964 after the gulf. Circulate throughout the class to support students and correct any individual misunderstandings. The vietnam war has been widely regarded these past 40 years as a total american defeat and a huge mistake.
Summary assesses the lessons learned from this war, and how these lessons have affected american national security policy since provided by publisher. The australian people were forced to take the issues about the cold war, vietnam and the arms race seriously because of australias military. Their case hangs on the assertion that south vietnam was actually winning the war in 1961, but the united states failed to appreciate its success and build on it, thus snatching defeat from the jaws of victory for the revisionists the first of a number of such american lost victories in vietnam. The vietnam war was a long, costly and divisive conflict that pitted the communist government of north vietnam against south vietnam and its principal ally, the united states. That was why they could persevere the prolonged attacks of a very powerful enemy. Americas different viewpoints on the war through the particular strip. Looks at many facets of vietnam war, examining central arguments of scholars, journalists, and participants and providing evidence on both sides of. Answer by jon mixon, studied military actions from the punic wars to south. Save up to 80% by choosing the etextbook option for isbn. Capitalism, yet the conduct of the vietnam war was complex and strategic, and brought repercussions which had never been seen. List of books and articles about vietnam war online. Rather than a full accounting of the war and americas mistakes and crimes in it, the focus was on recovering american pride, to be accomplished in part by righting an alleged betrayal of americas vietnam veterans.
Jon mixon, who has studied military actions during war times, feels that the vietnamese war was lost by the americans because south vietnam was. Numbers certainly do not tell the whole story or all of them but they certainly paint a picture of lives lost and families devastated. America officially lost the vietnam war 40 years ago this week how the endgames in iraq and afghanistan compare to the fall of saigon. Apr 29, 2015 the vietnam war has been widely regarded these past 40 years as a total american defeat and a huge mistake. Hess, 9781405125277, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Explaining americas lost war isbn 9781118948996 pdf. Historians and the vietnam war, a chapter in wiest and doidge, triumph revisited.
For the first few years of the indochina war between the. The absence of a clear explanation is not an accident. The us lost the vietnam war on many fronts, domestic hostility to war coupled with a powerful antiwar movement and growing concern for the economy meant electoral suicide if a hardline on vietnam continued. Then the vietnam war, as appy shows, was reinterpreted as a uniquely american tragedy. The national archives has a wealth of records and information documenting the u. The us had lost the vietnam war and also taken a major blow in the cold war.
I cant give a good answer to this, but here are a couple of points that are germane. Download file pdf vietnam war answer key vietnam war answer key vietnam war. Explaining americas lost war is an awardwinning historiography of one of the 20th centurys seminal conflicts. Herring rendition of america s longest war is widely considered to be a balanced, fair, and honest account of the vietnam war. How history dealt with lbj and his vietnam war in three. Historians battle for the vietnam war, routledge press, april 2010. Game of thrones lego divergent throne of glass star wars. The involvement of the united states in the vietnam war has been the most polarizing issue within post war american history. Neu realized the importance of this major event and wanted to document the years 19451975 in his book. Rent america s lost war vietnam, 1945 1975 1st edition 9780882952321 and save up to 80% on textbook rentals and 90% on used textbooks. Hess describes and evaluates the main arguments of scholars, participants, and journalists, both revisionist and orthodox in their approach, as they try to answer fundamental questions of the vietnam war. In a longawaited alternative to the lengthy and overly expensive texts on the vietnam war, charles neu presents americas lost war, a balanced, lively narrative account of that tragic conflict, one that sweeps across the whole timespan of the war and explores american, vietnamese, and international perspectives.
Many consider his discussion of the legacy of the war to be the quintessential blueprint for how historians should critique and analyze historical events such as wars. Rethinking the vietnam war by john dumbrell springerlink. Note the curated subject guides on many topics for help digging into the wealth of content. The vietnam war explained in 25 minutes vietnam war documentary the vietnam war began in. Yet consider what actually prompted us to become involved with vietnam in the first place. In april of 1975 south vietnam surrendered to north vietnam. In the vietnam war, the us was unable to understand what a revolutionary war was and that was the reason why us strategies failed painfully in gaining victory vickers, 1993, p. Explaining americas lost war 2nd edition by gary r. Contains more than 550,000 items for searching and browsing. In march of 1945, and just five months before surrendering to the allies, japan did something with profound.
Explaining americas lost war is the finest effort by any scholar to date to take stock of the voluminous historiography of the war, expose the central points of contention, and weigh the persuasiveness of competing claims in light of available evidence. A few months later in march the final us troops were removed from vietnam. The problem is, that losing has been so indoctrinated into peoples head because the us didnt have a victory parade down ho chi minh boulevard in hanoi. Apr 02, 2020 largest online source for information on the vietnam war. Reexamining the culture and history of a generation, routledge press, december 2009. Jon mixon, who has studied military actions during war times, feels that the vietnamese war was lost by the americans because south vietnam was a product of frances loss during the indochina war. Who really lost the war in vietnam wall street journal. Explaining americas lost war wiley blackwell, 2008. Mcnamara developed a strategy based on massive firepower alone. Ho and giap made an aggressive attack on the national will of the u. Hill, 4th edition, 2002 herring was the leading american historian of the war, and this is the book i used to write most of my lectures when i star ted teaching vietnam. Westmoreland vii introduction no conflict in recent history has divided america as much as the war in vietnam. Rent americas lost war vietnam, 1945 1975 1st edition 9780882952321 and save up to 80% on textbook rentals and 90% on used textbooks. The vietnam war is one of americas most significant historical events.
Finally, we will attempt to answer why the vietnam war has haunted america for over four decades, and how this war has affected certain foreign policy decision during this time. Learning objective i, wor theme learn about the war that enmeshed the united states in a battle against communism in southeast asia for more than twenty years. It was part of a larger regional conflict as well as a manifestation of the cold war. Explaining americas lost war malden, ma, and oxford. Now available in a completely revised and updated second edition, vietnam. June 17, 2012 vietnam war commemoration jun 17, 2012. Questions remain regarding the johnson administrations policy of gradual response, the effectiveness of the search and destroy strateg y, and the americanization of the war. These vietnam war documents have been curated by alpha history authors. History and key dates the truth about the vietnam war did the united states win or lose the vietnam war. The other vietnam war, a chapter in wiest, robins and barbier, america and the vietnam war.
Soon the country became officially unified as the socialist republic of vietnam. The lost chance for peace and the escalation of war in vietnam, berkley. The vietnam war in history chapter 1 the vietnam war. Morse believes that if nuclear weapons had been used, more than the war would have been lost by the americans. By the end of 1954, the french had lost the war, and. Largest online source for information on the vietnam war.
The united states, despite warnings from almost everybody, entered the war. In college and high school classrooms across the united states, students display a keen interest in. Accepted manuscript manuscripts that have been selected for publication. Contemporary views will be examined, including those of the administration itself, those written 1 fredrik logevall, choosing war. The people of vietnam and the countrys leadership were so full of revolutionary fervor that they were mentally unbeatable. As such, the book unquestionably deserves the careful attention of. Vietnam war 195475, conflict that pitted the communist government of north vietnam and its allies in south vietnam, the viet cong, against south vietnam and its principal ally, the united states. Hess describes and evaluates the main arguments of scholars, participants, and journalists, both revisionist and orthodox in their approach, as they try to answer fundamental. Clearly examines the historiography of the vietnam war questions whether the vietnam war was lost due to poor strategy and leadership, or was. It was divisive at the time, both domestically and internationally, and debates continue to the present day. Analysis of reasons for american involvement in vietnam war. We thought that we were going into another korean war, but this was a different country. How america lost vietnam after winning the war against a. Hess find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate.
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