This Day in History

May 7, 1954: Viet Minh Victory

Time Periods: 1945
Themes: US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
Print

Viet Minh troops following victory over French at Dien Bien Phu.

On May 7, 1954, the Viet Minh scored their final victory over the French at Dien Bien Phu in the war that began in 1946.

At that point the U.S. considered using nuclear strikes or mining Haiphong Harbor to defend the French.

Sadly, when it comes to probing the root causes of the Vietnam War, U.S. history textbooks do not look back beyond the 1950s.

Teaching the Vietnam War: Beyond the Headlines is a free downloadable teaching guide for teaching about the Vietnam War.

Related Resources
Teaching Activities (Free)

A Revolution of Values

Teaching Activity. By Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 3 pages.
Text of speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the Vietnam War, followed by three teaching ideas.

Rethinking the Vietnam War | Zinn Education Project
Teaching Activities (Free)

Rethinking the Teaching of the Vietnam War

Teaching Activity. By Bill Bigelow. Rethinking Schools. 8 pages.
A role play on the history of the Vietnam War that is left out of traditional textbooks.

Teaching the Vietnam War: Beyond the Headlines (Teaching Activity) | Zinn Education Project: Teaching People's History
Teaching Activities (Free)

Teaching the Vietnam War: Beyond the Headlines

Teaching Activity. By the Zinn Education Project. 100 pages.
Eight lessons about the Vietnam War, Daniel Ellsberg, the Pentagon Papers, and whistleblowing.

This Day in History

Aug. 7, 1964: Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was passed without a single dissent in the House of Representatives, and only two no votes in the Senate, leading to increased U.S. aggression in Vietnam.

1967 Spring Mobilization against the War in Vietnam | Zinn Education Project: Teaching People's History
This Day in History

April 15, 1967: Massive Anti-Vietnam War Demonstrations

Amidst growing opposition to the U.S. war in Vietnam, large-scale anti-war protests were held in New York, San Francisco, and many other cities.

This Day in History

April 17, 1965: Largest Anti-War Protest

One of the largest anti-war protest was held in Washington, D.C.