Vietnam War (1961–1975) Research Paper

BACKGROUND

Possibly the most controversial war in U.S. history, the Vietnam War pitted the Communist government of North Vietnam against the democratic government of South Vietnam. The U.S. role as South Vietnam’s military advisor soon grew to include troop support and full involvement. By 1975, when the United States pulled out, over 46,000 Americans had been killed.

BROWSE FOR BOOKS ON THE SHELF USING THESE CALL NUMBERS

959

959.7–959.7043

LOOK UNDER THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS IN THE CATALOG (CARD OR COMPUTER)

Vietnamese Conflict, 1961–1975

Many other subjects beginning Vietnamese conflict, 1961–1975

USE PAMPHLET FILE (ALSO CALLED VERTICAL FILE) UNDER THE HEADING

Vietnamese conflict

REFERENCE MATERIALS THAT MAY HELP (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

Bowman, John S., ed. Vietnam War: An Almanac, 1985.

Editorial Research Reports, Facts on File.

Facts on File

Summers, Harry G. The Vietnam War Almanac, 1985.

General encyclopedias

PERIODICAL INDEXES TO SEARCH (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

EBSCO Magazine Article Summaries

InfoTrac

NewsBank and other newspaper indexes

Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature

SIRS (Social Issues Resources Series)

WILSONDISC

ONLINE DATABASES TO SEARCH

America Online

CompuServe

Dialog

Internet

Prodigy
KEY WORDS AND DESCRIPTORS FOR PERIODICAL INDEX AND ONLINE SEARCHES

Vietnamese Conflict

Vietnam War

VIDEOTAPES ON THIS TOPIC

All the Unsung Heroes: The Vietnam Memorial. Heritage America Group, 1991.

Apocalpyse Now. Paramount Home Video, 1981.

Gardens of Stone. CBS/Fox Video, 1987.

Platoon. HBO Video, 1986.

Vietnam: A Chronicle of a War. CBS/Fox Video, 1981.

FICTION BOOKS RELATING TO TOPIC

Myers, Walter Dean. Fallen Angels, 1988.

Nelson, Theresa. And One for All, 1991.

Qualey, Marsha. Come in from the Cold, 1994.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Vietnam Veterans against the War, P.O. Box 408594, Chicago, IL 60640.

Vietnam Veterans of America, 1224 M St., N.W., Washington, DC 20005–5783.

SUGGESTIONS FOR NARROWING THIS TOPIC

Describe the antiwar sentiment, protest movements, and draft resistors.

Discuss the moral and ethical aspects of the war.

Discuss military policy and/or choose a particular event to analyze; e.g., Tet Offensive, My Lai Massacre.

How has the war been portrayed in motion pictures?

Investigate the role of the media.

SUGGESTIONS FOR RELATED TOPICS

Agent Orange

Conscientious objectors

MIAs/POWs

President Lyndon Johnson

Post–traumatic stress disorder

Vietnam War Memorial

This RESEARCH TOPIC GUIDE is intended to help the library user find information and materials on a particular topic in many sources throughout the library. Resources on this topic are not limited to those described and availability will depend upon the individual library. Feel free to ask a librarian for assistance.