Varying Perspectives on Vietnam: Using Primary Sources to Show Individual Experiences of the Vietnam War

Abstract

This project examines the realities of teaching history lessons on the Vietnam War from a uniquely “personal” perspective. It challenges educators to craft lessons with “eye witness” testimony which includes the use of multiple sources – Vietnam Era news reports, films, music, first person narratives in collected correspondence, and primary historical texts. Allowing students to “experience” war from the documented personal perspectives of those who lived through this era assists students in relating to and appreciating different viewpoints that surround historical moments of conflict. Multiple data and sources are examined in understanding key questions – Why was the United States involved in the Vietnam War? What made the United States ultimately decide to risk American lives in the conflict? And finally, what convinced the United States to exit the war in 1975? The study cautions future educators against oversimplification of history lessons based solely on key events, historical figures, and timelines. This project includes a brief discussion of different learning approaches; Gardner’s learning intelligences, and the use of cooperative learning. The author’s conclusion states the profound effect of combining typical history lessons with a multitextual approach to educate and engage students in the complex and far reaching nature of war.