Impact of the Vietnam War
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can assess the impact of the Vietnam War.
Key learning points
- Vietnam veterans suffered problems upon their return to the US.
- The Vietnam War caused the US public to lose faith in their government.
- The Vietnamese people and landscape suffered greatly due to the war.
- Although all of Indochina became communist, no other Southeast Asian country did.
- Relations between the US and the USSR and China improved, which made nuclear war less likely.
Keywords
Veteran - a veteran is someone who has long experience in a particular field
Impact - impact refers to the effect or influence of something
Common misconception
A war that ended 50 years ago does not affect anybody any more.
Much of the Vietnamese landscape and people are still impacted or recovering from the effects of the war even today.
Teacher tip
Show students images of children born with the effects of Agent Orange, or the efforts of teams to defuse landmines and collect other explosives, in order to demonstrate how the war still affects Vietnamese people today.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the US strategy in Vietnam with its intended purpose.
relocate rural populations away from Vietcong areas
the bombing campaign against North Vietnam
use of chemical weapons such as napalm to clear jungle terrain
Q2.This programme forced people to move away from the graves of their ancestors.
Q3.Who made a public announcement declaring that “peace is at hand” in October 1972?
Q4.Which country was responsible for providing more than three quarters of North Vietnam's military and technical equipment?
Q5.Which country provided North Vietnam with 320 000 troops between 1965 and 1971?
Q6.Match the words with their definitions. Write the correct letter in each box.
a member of a group that takes possession of a country by force
a temporary stoppage of a war
a formal agreement between countries
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.An view is an opinion that follows the generally accepted rules or beliefs.
Q2.A view is an opinion that challenges and tries to change existing beliefs about an event.
Q3.Roughly how many war veterans suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
Q4.Match the events that eroded the trust of the US public in their government with their correct date
1964
May 1970
January 1968
March 1968
Q5.Which of the following statements accurately describes the effects of the Vietnam war? Select all statements that are correct.
Q6.Which communist countries did the US become friendlier with under Nixon? Select all the answers that are correct.
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: Impact of the Vietnam War, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: Impact of the Vietnam War, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the The USA, 1954–75 conflict at home and abroad unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.