How the Cold War Heated Up in Korea and Vietnam

CrashCourse

In this fast-paced and comprehensive installment of Crash Course US History, John Green explores how the Cold War "heated up" in Asia through two major conflicts: the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Moving beyond just military tactics, the video examines the ideological roots of these conflicts, specifically the American policy of containment and the "Domino Theory" that drove US intervention in the region. It details the progression of the Korean War, often called the "Forgotten War," explaining how a civil conflict turned into an international proxy war involving China and the UN. The bulk of the video focuses on the Vietnam War, tracing its origins from French colonialism to the escalations under Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon. It provides a critical look at the political decisions behind the war, including the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and the eventual "Vietnamization" policy. Green highlights the brutal nature of jungle warfare, the devastating bombing campaigns, and significant events like the Tet Offensive and the My Lai Massacre that shifted public perception. Critically for educators, this video connects foreign policy to domestic history, explaining how the Vietnam War fundamentally altered American society. It covers the rise of the anti-war movement, the socioeconomic disparities of the draft, and the release of the Pentagon Papers. The analysis concludes by discussing the war's lasting legacy: the erosion of public trust in the federal government and the end of the consensus that Americans generally supported their government's foreign policy decisions.