Summary: The Vietnam War era was a highly divisive period in American history. This lesson looks at the war through the lens of the New Jersey experience. Many New Jerseyans served in the conflict, with eight winning the Congressional Medal of Honor and 1,563 losing their lives. New Jersey towns and campuses also saw protests from citizens who saw the war as unjust and contrary to the national interest. Public opinion was deeply divided, with both sides claiming the mantle of patriotism. This lesson will focus not only on the New Jersey experience of the war, but also the meaning of patriotism and the importance of understanding multiple perspectives to foster civil discourse.
Overarching Questions
- CIVICS: How well does the government balance individual rights and the common good, including the need to maintain order, safety and a healthy environment, during this time period?
- CIVICS: Have individuals and groups influenced public policy during this time period? If so, how and what has been the impact?
- How have changes in New Jersey during this time period influenced U.S. history?
NJ Student Learning Standards for Social Studies
- 6.1.12.HistoryCC.12.a: Examine constitutional issues involving war powers, as they relate to United States military intervention in the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and other conflicts.
- 6.1.12.HistoryCC.12.c: Analyze efforts to eliminate communism, such as McCarthyism, and their impact on individual civil liberties.
- 6.1.12.HistoryCC.12.e: Analyze ideological differences and other factors that contributed to the Cold War and to United States involvement in conflicts intended to contain communism, including the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War.
Link to Lesson: Lesson coming soon.
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