CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY OF HONOLULU
HI/POL 341 - United States and Vietnam
Willis H A Moore, M Ed, Instructor
willis.moore@adjunct.chaminade.edu /or/ profwillishamoore@gmail.com
808-538-3952 - OFFICE CONSULTATION BEFORE CLASS/BY REQUEST

SYLLABUS:
Required text: Gary R Hess VIETNAM AND THE UNITED STATES
                                          Revised edition
Map & Geography booklet - $5 from instructor

U.S.A. involvement in Southeast Asia began in 1898 when Spain ceded the Philippines in concluding the “Spanish American War.”  A Philippine War ensued between USA forces and Filipino Nationalists seeking outright independence.  With the conclusion of World War II, European colonial nations attempted to reestablish governance in Southeast Asia, while the U.S.A. granted independence to the Philippines.  Resistence to French colonialism grew strong, focused around the person of Ho Chi Minh, and resulted in France’s agreement to depart “French Indo China” after the battle for Dien Bien Phu in 1954.  U.S.A. involvement in Viet Nam began immediately following the Geneva Peace Conference which divided French Indo China into NORTH Vietnam and SOUTH Vietnam along the 17̊N parallel.  This course reviews Indo China prior to World War II, but focuses on the growing U.S.A. involvements following the French departure in 1954 through 1975 when the war ended.  Concluding portions of the class will look at changed relations between an independent “Democratic Republic of Viet Nam” and the United States.

YOUR GRADE:
Class attendance and participation @2/meeting                            20 points
A personality report                                                            Up to 20 points
An incident report                                                               Up to 20 points
A midterm examination                                                       Up to 20 points
A final examination                                                             Up to 20 points
Extra Credit (movies, other options)                                    No limit
90+ points = “A”,  80+ points = “B”,  70+ points = “C”, 60+ points = “D”

CLASS ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION
There are 10 class meetings; your attendance at each is expected.  If you cannot attend, contact instructor in advance by telephone, or, by e-mail.  In general, work will not be made up; if you feel “unusual circumstances” for missing class and/or assignments, e-mail contact and/or conversation with the instructor are required.

TEXT
Reading the text and supplemental materials if your responsibility.  The Instructor will enlarge upon concepts, answer questions, guide discussions of assignments.  

COURSE OUTCOMES:
Students will demonstrate geographical knowledge of the situation and circumstances of USA involvements in, invasions of, bombings of, and eventual withdrawal from Vietnam.  Students will demonstrate in writing they have understandings of basic concepts:
Events and circumstances leading to USA involvement in Vietnam,
Personalities which determined directions of and outcomes of the conflict.
The social, cultural, and psychological outcomes of the Vietnam War in USA.

SCHEDULE: 04 April - 06 June 2012

Meeting 01 - Intro, background, requirements,  “catch-up” to 20th Century.  Chapter one in TEXT,
Meeting 02 - Discussion on material found in TEXT, Chapter two,
Meeting 03 - Choose personality and incident by this meeting of class
                    Discussion on material found in TEXT, Chapter three,
Meeting 04 - Discussion on material found in TEXT, chapter four.
Meeting 05 - Mid Term Examination assigned, in class discussion
Meeting 06 - Discussion on material found in TEXT, chapter six.
Meeting 07 - Discussion on material found in TEXT, chapter seven.
Meeting 08 - In class presentations by students
Meeting 09 - In class presentations by students
Meeting 10 - Final Examination and final presentations.
(NOTE: There will be audio visual materials in class in addition to conversations and discussions based on the text.  Class will begin at 1730h; please notify Instructor if you cannot make class on time.)