The Vietnam War

More than 58,000 American troops and personnel died in the humid jungles and muddy rivers of Vietnam during the 20-year conflict. But why? What were they fighting for? And how could the world's most powerful military be defeated by a small, poverty-stricken country?
In The Vietnam War, kids ages 12 to 15 explore the global conditions and history that gave rise to the war, the reasons why the United States became increasingly embroiled in the conflict, and the varied causes of its shocking defeat. As readers learn about how the fear of the spread of communism spurred the United States to enter a war that was erupting on the other side of the world, they find themselves immersed in the mood and mindset of the Vietnam Era.
The Vietnam War is one book in a set of four that explore great events of the twentieth century. Other titles in this set include Globalization: Why We Care About Faraway Events; World War II: From the Rise of the Nazi Party to the Dropping of the Atomic Bomb; and The Space Race: How the Cold War Put Humans on the Moon.
Try these hands-on investigations!

• Create antiwar and pro-war demonstration slogans
• Write letters from the perspective of a U.S soldier and a south Vietnamese citizen
• Build arguments for and against the media's coverage of the war

List of contents

Introduction: What was the Vietnam War?

Interview someone who lived during the Vietnam War and remembers it.

Chapter One: Vietnam’s Revolution Sparks War

Analyze Ho Chi Minh’s speech 1945 speech.

Chapter Two: The Cold War Heats Up the Conflict

Analyze political cartoons about the Red Scare.

Chapter Three: Sinking Deeper into Hostilities

Create 3-D topographical map of Vietnam, as it was in the 1960.

Chapter Four:  Resistance and Division

Watch and analyze several online clips of news reports on the Vietnam war. How

Chapter Five: Spiraling to the End

            Examine the Pentagon papers and discuss the role of the whistleblower

Chapter Six: War’s Aftermath

Design a Vietnam Memorial that communicates how you feel about the Americans who served and died in the war. 

Glossary

Resources

Index

About the author

Barbara Diggs is a non-fiction writer who has written a range of historical articles for children. Her work has been featured in Learning Through History Magazine, History Magazine, and Renaissance, among others. A graduate of Stanford Law School, Barbara practiced law in New York for several years before becoming a professional writer. She and her family currently split their time between Paris, France, and Washington DC.

Summary

More than 58,000 American troops and military personnel died in the humid jungles and muddy rivers of Vietnam during the 20-year conflict called the Vietnam War. Why? What were they fighting for? And how could the world’s most powerful and technologically advanced military be defeated by a small, poverty-stricken country? These questions have haunted the U.S. government, the military, and the American public for nearly a half century. 

In The Vietnam War, kids ages 12 to 15 explore the global conditions and history that gave rise to the Vietnam War, the reasons why the United States became increasingly embroiled in the conflict, and the varied causes of its shocking defeat. As readers learn about how the fear of the spread of communism spurred the United States to enter a war that was erupting on the other side of the world, they find themselves immersed in the mood and mindset of the Vietnam Era.

Through links to online primary sources, including speeches, letters, photos, and songs, readers become familiar with the reality of combat life for young American soldiers, the frustration of military advisors as they failed to subdue the Viet Cong, and the empty promises made by U.S. presidents to soothe an uneasy public. The Vietnam War also pays close attention to the development of a massive antiwar movement and counterculture that divided the country into “hawks” and “doves.” In-depth essential questions help middle schoolers analyze primary sources and develop their own evidence-supported views on a range of issues.

The Vietnam War also fosters critical thinking skills through projects such as creating antiwar and pro-war demonstration slogans, writing letters from the perspective of a U.S. soldier and a south Vietnamese citizen, and building arguments for and against the media’s coverage of the war. Additional learning materials include engaging illustrations, maps, a glossary, a bibliography, and resources for further independent learning.

The Vietnam War is one book in a set of four that explore great events of the twentieth century. Other titles in this set include Globalization: Why We Care About Faraway Events; World War II: From the Rise of the Nazi Party to the Dropping of the Atomic Bomb; and The Space Race: How the Cold War Put Humans on the Moon.

Additional text

"A great introduction to the Vietnam War for young readers. Diggs’ book is clear, readable, and engaging. She takes an important but challenging topic and treats it with fairness and sensitivity."-- Matthew Masur, Associate Professor of History, St. Anselm College, Co-editor of Understanding and Teaching the Vietnam War (UW Press). 

Product details

• Authors: Barbara Diggs
• Assisted by: Samuel Carbaugh (Illustration)
• Publisher: Nomad Press (VT)
• Languages: English
• Age Recommendation: ages 12 to 16
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.05.2018
• EAN: 9781619306608
• ISBN: 978-1-61930-660-8
• No. of pages: 128
• Dimensions: 203 mm x 251 mm x 13 mm
• Weight: 318 g
• Series: Inquire & Investigate; Inquire & Investigate
• Subject: Children's and young people's books > Non-fiction books / Non-fiction picture books > History, politics