Course Description
One of the most divisive military efforts in United States history since the Civil War was the Vietnam War. A subject of widely-differing opinions at the time, the controversy rages still today over whether or not America should have involved itself in this bloody and hard-fought conflict.
The primary aim of our involvement in Vietnam was to contain the spread of communism in Southeast Asia following the events of the Korean War and the Chinese Civil War of 1949. The United States officially backed the anti-communist Republic of South Vietnam (South Vietnam) against the forces of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), also called the "Vietcong".
The North Vietnamese received military and economic assistance from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the People's Republic of China (Communist China), which greatly prolonged the conflict and created a significantly more difficult obstacle for the U.S. Armed Forces to surmount. What followed was one of the most brutal and unique wars ever fought by America.
This course will examine the history of the Vietnam War. It will provide the student with the historical background that set the stage for the conflict, the events that led directly to the war, the major issues involved at home and abroad, and an overview of the major battles. Further, this course will also cover the non-military aspects of the war, such as the changing political climate in the United States during the late 1960s, that had a profound impact on the outcome of the struggle.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- Printable Lessons
- Full HD Video
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs

Learning Outcomes
By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
- Summarize the history of Vietnam.
- Describe war-time technology and weapons of the Vietnam War.
- Describe the road to war.
- Describe the beginning of the war.
- Summarize President Johnson and the Vietnam War.
- Describe the battle plans of the war.
- Summarize the Tet Offensive.
- Summarize the aftermath of the vietnam war.
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Assessment Guide
Assessment | Points |
---|---|
An Introduction | 5 points |
Lesson 1 Assignment | 25 points |
Why Study the Vietnam War? | 25 points |
The Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871 | 20 points |
Lesson 1 : A History of Vietnam | 9 points |
Lesson 2 Assignment | 25 points |
Was the Vietnam War Worth It? | 20 points |
Lesson 2 : War-Time Technology & Weapons of the Vietnam War | 10 points |
Lesson 3 Assignment | 25 points |
Truman Ignores Ho Chi Mihn | 50 points |
Lesson 3: The Road To War | 9 points |
Lesson 4 Assignment | 25 points |
President Kennedy and the Vietnam War | 25 points |
Lesson 4: The Beginning of the War | 10 points |
Lesson 5 Assignment | 25 points |
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution | 50 points |
LBJ v. McNamara | 20 points |
Lesson 5 : President Johnson and the Vietnam War | 10 points |
Lesson 6 Assignment | 25 points |
Lesson 6 : Making Battle Plans | 6 points |
Lesson 7 Assignment | 25 points |
Winning The Hearts and Minds of the Vietnamese People | 50 points |
Operation Cords -- Helping your neighbor's enemy | 5 points |
Lesson 7 : Wading into the War | 10 points |
Lesson 8 Assignment | 25 points |
Lesson 8 : Major U.S. Offensives in South Vietnam, Part I | 10 points |
Lesson 9 Assignment | 25 points |
Lesson 9 : Major U.S. Offensives in South Vietnam, Part II | 9 points |
Lesson 10 Assignment | 25 points |
T.V. and The Tet Offensive | 50 points |
Lesson 10 : The Tet Offensive | 9 points |
Lesson 11 Assignment | 25 points |
Vietnam and President Johnson | 50 points |
Did the U.S. lose the War, or did it withdraw with honor? | 50 points |
Vietnam and Afghanistan Withdrawals | 25 points |
Did America Learn Anything from Vietnam? | 30 points |
Lesson 11 : The End of the War - U.S. Forces Leave Vietnam | 9 points |
Lesson 12 Assignment | 25 points |
Lesson 12 : The Aftermath of the Vietnam War | 10 points |
The Final Exam | 51 points |