Key Figures in the Vietnam War

Researching real people helps students to gain a more concrete and critical understanding of the lives and diverse perspectives of people who were involved in the Vietnam War. Giving students the perspective of those who lived during a time period helps them go beyond simply memorizing dates and names to acquire a more substantial, empathetic and realistic view of the period. In this activity, students will create a spider map highlighting at least 3 key figures from the Vietnam War. They should include information about their impact, importance or role, and core beliefs.

Examples of Key Figures related to the Vietnam War

North Vietnamese

• Hồ Chí Minh
• Le Duan
• Vo Nguyen Giap

South Vietnamese

• Bao Dai
• Ngô Đình Diệm
• Ngo Dinh Nhu
• Nguyễn Văn Thiệu

Americans

• Dwight D. Eisenhower
• John F. Kennedy
• Lyndon B. Johnson
• Robert McNamara
• Richard M. Nixon
• Henry Kissinger
• William Westmoreland
• Creighton Abrams
• William Calley

Anti-War Figures

• Muhammad Ali
• Robert F. Kennedy
• John Kerry
• Martin Luther King
• Jane Fonda

Due Date:

Objective: Research some of the key figures from the Vietnam War and create a spider map that highlights 3-6 of them.

Student Instructions:

1. Choose a person.
2. Using school resources, conduct research on important figures from the Vietnam War
3. For each cell, include the person’s name and dates of birth (and death if applicable). Choose a character that resembles your person, use search, or upload a picture. You may also choose to create a design that represents your person.
4. Include a short description of the person and their role or importance during the Vietnam War.
5. Save and exit when you're finished.

Requirements: 3-6 people with names, dates of birth/death, illustrations, accomplishments.