History 485A: The United States and
the Indochina Wars, 1940-1975

Dr. Thomas R. Maddux Office--Sierra Tower 602 Office Hours: MW 10-11 TBA Telephone: 677-5450, 3566 Course Web Page: http://www.csun.edu/~vchis009/menu.html E-mail: thomas.maddux@csun.edu [Required Reading ] [Course Requirements] [Course Outline] [Internet Resources] Required Reading The required reading for the course is listed below. The books are available in paperback at the bookstore. George C. Herring, America's Longest War, 3rd edition (1996) Robert McMahon, editor, Major Problems in the History of the Vietnam War, 2nd edition (1995) Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam Philip Caputo, A Rumor of War Course Requirements This class will follow all of the university regulations from the undergraduate catalog and the schedule of classes on subjects such as cheating on exams, plagiarism, and late changes of enrollment such as a change to credit/no credit and late withdrawals. All requests for late withdrawals after the official deadline of Friday, February 19th must satisfy the official guidelines relating to medical issues or employment demands and require documentation. Regular attendance is expected of all students. Class lectures and discussions will cover the information you will need to pass the exams. Exams There will be a midterm exam at the end of Section III and a final exam. The midterm exam will be essay in nature and the essays will cover the lectures, readings and discussions. The final exam will be similar in structure. The essay questions will focus on the major themes of the course. Make-up exams will be given only under extraordinary circumstances and if the instructor is consulted before or immediately after the exam. The midterm will count for approximately 50% of the final grade and the final exam will be 50%. Participation in discussion will be considered in the final evaluation. The plus/minus grading system will be used. Course Outline Origins of the French-Viet Minh Conflict, 1945-1954 Herring, 3-45 McMahon, 39-70, 86-116, 134-145 Sheehan, 3-33, 127-199, 389-497 Origins of Insurgency: Laos and Vietnam, 1954-1963 Herring, 47-119 McMahon, 145-157, 176-206, 304-336 Sheehan, 37-125, 203-386 LBJ and Escalation, 1964-1965 Herring, 120-157 McMahon, 224-242 Caputo Sheehan, 501-585 Americanization of the Wars, 1966-1968 Herring, 158-241 McMahon, 257-280, 361-388, 487-518 Sheehan, 589-722 Negotiating Peace and Expanding the War, 1969-1973 Herring, 243-283 McMahon, 443-464, 535-561 Sheehan, 722-790 Collapse in Indochina, 1973-75 Herring, 285-321 McMahon, 582-607, 622-646

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Last updated: January 29, 1999