History

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At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in the year 1918, the guns of the Great War fell silent. The date is still remembered around the world, particularly in the nations that participated in “The War to End All Wars.” In France, the day is known as Armistice Day, commemorating the war and all who were lost in it. In the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, Remembrance Day honors not only those who fell in the war, but all who have given their lives since. In the United States, however, the date’s significance has changed to honor all Americans who have served their nation in peace and in war.

In the immediate aftermath of the Great War, Americans remembered November 11th as Armistice Day. Though observed unofficially since 1919, Congress resolved to officially recognize Armistice Day as a national holiday in 1926. It wouldn`t be until the immediate aftermath of World War II that it would come to be known as Veterans Day.

Today, November 11, serves as a reminder not only of the armistice that brought the First World War to a close, but also of the generations of Americans who have answered the call to serve their country.

The Liberty University Department of Humanities extends its gratitude to all who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Through the continued study, preservation, and telling of our nation`s history, the History Area remains committed to ensuring that the stories of those who served—and the sacrifices they made—are remembered by generations to come.

Lest we forget.

Picture #1: New Yorkers celebrate Armistice Day on November 11, 1918.
Picture #2: The Lowry Air Force Base Color Guard participates in the annual Veterans Day Parade in Denver, Colorado, on November 11, 1963.
Picture #3: Thousands gather on Broad Street in New York City near a replica of the Statue of Liberty to celebrate the announcement of the armistice in November 1918.

#VeteransDay #ThankYouVeterans #HonorOurVeterans #MilitaryHistory #AmericanHistory #HistoryMatters #LibertyUniversity #LUHumanities

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As we enter November, we take a moment to remember the beginning of the Vietnam War, which officially began on November 1, 1955. Wars rarely result from a single cause. The Vietnam War emerged from the intersection of French colonialism, Vietnamese nationalism, political conflict within Vietnam, and Cold War rivalry. Three developments were especially important.

First was the collapse of French colonial rule. Vietnamese resistance to French control had a long history, but it intensified during and after World War II under Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh. After France’s defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954, the Geneva settlement created a temporary military division near the 17th parallel. Viet Minh forces regrouped in the North, while French Union forces withdrew to the South. Although nationwide elections were anticipated, they never occurred, and the temporary division hardened into rival governments.

Second was the Cold War policy of containment. The United States had supported France’s war effort and, after 1954, increasingly backed the anti-communist government of South Vietnam. American leaders feared that a communist victory in Vietnam might encourage neighboring countries to follow, an idea commonly known as the “domino theory.”

Third was the escalation of the conflict within Vietnam. Political instability in South Vietnam, the growing communist insurgency, and increasing North Vietnamese support for communist forces in the South deepened the war. Following a confirmed naval confrontation on August 2, 1964, and a second reported attack on August 4 that was later seriously disputed, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. The resolution gave President Lyndon B. Johnson broad authority to expand American military involvement. In 1965, the United States began sustained bombing of North Vietnam and deployed major ground-combat forces to South Vietnam, marking a decisive escalation of the war.

The Vietnam War demonstrates the complexity of studying history. Historians must carefully examine primary and secondary sources, consider different viewpoints, and evaluate the events and circumstances that shaped the past.