The Vietnam Wars course will examine the culture, beliefs, customs and religious influences of the Vietnamese people to help provide more context to the conflicts endured in this Southeast Asian nation during the period of World War II through the US involvement. The shifting political climate both in Vietnam and at home in the US will be discussed. A look at key players, competing visions between North and South Vietnam, US policymakers influences, and divisions in the US will provide additional background for this troubling time. The course will conclude with a key question: What is the legacy of these wars both for the Vietnamese and the US?