N O T E B O O K
G U I D E
Getting Out of Vietnam
What lessons for Americans emerged from the Vietnam War?
K e y
C o n t e n t
As you complete the Reading Notes, use these
Key Content Terms in your answers:
Vietnamization
Pentagon Papers
My Lai massacre
War Powers
Resolution
Kent State shootings
R E A D I N G
T e r m s
P R E V I E W
To personalize the history you have been studying,
you will speak with someone in your community who
was involved in or otherwise affected by the Vietnam
War. Before conducting your interview, tape each
photograph from the Notebook Handout to the center
of a page in your notebook. Also designate a page for
recording biographical information about the person
you interview.
N O T E S
Section 2
Annotate Photograph A by writing at least three historical facts from Section 2 in the space around it. Draw
a line from each fact to a detail in the photograph that
supports it. Then, below the photograph, answer these
questions:
1. What two conclusions did Nixon and Kissinger
draw that led them to pursue a “peace with honor”
plan?
2. Describe the carrot-and-stick approach Nixon used
to negotiate an end to the war. Give at least one
example of a “carrot” and one example of a “stick.”
Section 3
Annotate Photograph B with at least three historical
facts from this section. Then do the following in your
notebook:
1. Describe at least two events that led to renewed
antiwar protests.
2. Describe at least two reactions, by the government
or Nixon supporters, to antiwar protests.
3. Describe at least two ways Congress acted to limit
the president’s war powers.
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
Getting Out of Vietnam
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N O T E B O O K
G U I D E
Section 4
Annotate Photograph C with at least three historical
facts from this section. Then do the following:
1. Describe at least two military actions Nixon ordered
in 1972 and how they helped to bring an end to the
war.
2. Answer this question: What was the experience of
veterans upon returning home?
3. Describe the conditions endured by American
POWs during the war.
Section 5
Annotate Photograph D with at least three historical
facts from this section. Then do the following:
1. Explain how the U.S. government reacted to the
NVA invasion of South Vietnam.
2. Describe at least three events in Southeast Asia following the end of the war.
3. Answer this question: What were the lingering
effects of the war on Americans?
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
P R O C E S S I N G
Use your notes to write about the oral history interview you conducted. Your written description should
include these elements:
• An introduction that includes a biographical sketch
of the interviewee’s background information.
• One or more paragraphs that explain how the
Vietnam War personally affected the interviewee.
Use at least two quotations from the interview here.
• One or more paragraphs that explain the interviewee’s overall perception of the war. Explain his
or her reaction to at least one of the photographs.
Include his or her thoughts about lessons learned
from the war. Also consider using quotations from
the interview here.
• Based on what you learned from the interview and
the reading, write a conclusion that explains what
you feel is the most important lesson that emerged
from the Vietnam War. Explain why you consider
this lesson to be the most important.
Getting Out of Vietnam
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