(17) The USA and Southeast Asia Flashcards
What happened during the continuation of the Paris Peace Talks?
After Tet, LBJ and Nixon are determined to end US involvement and maintain South Vietnam as an independent non-communist state.
Kissinger embarked on a secret diplomacy in April 192 visiting the USSR to get support however China had still wanted a united, socialist Vietnam and does not encourage North Vietnam to compromise with the US as a result.
Shows that agreements could not be made as a result of ideological divides, both of whom sought a united Vietnam under their beliefs.
What terms had been agreed in the Paris Peace Agreement?
Ceasefire to being in Jan 1973
Each side’s forces to keep areas controlled at time of ceasefire
Within 60 days, US would withdraw its forces and POWs would be exchanged
Commission to be set up to consider free elections in South Vietnam and consider the reunification of Vietnam as one, unified state.
When was the Paris Peace Agreement?
1973
When did Nixon become president?
President Richard M. Nixon assumed office on January 20, 1969, replacing President Johnson,
What did Nixon do in Vietnam?
After Nixon won a landslide victory, he renewed US military efforts hoping to reassure Thieu that the USA would not abandon South Vietnam.
In December 1972, Nixon ordered the bombing of Hanoi and other important cities - the heaviest bombing campaign of the entire Vietnam War.
When did the US military forces leave?
March 1973
How did this lead to a Northern Victory?
South Vietnam fears regarding US withdraw had been correct as upon their withdraw, the North Vietnamese intensified their guerrilla campaign in the South and the ARVN were rendered unable to cope with the Vietcong hit and run tactics.
As a result, US promised to provide military and economic aid, including $1 billion in armaments.
What was the Watergate Scandal, when did it occur and why has this been so devastating for the South Vietnamese?
Nixon was forced to resign as a direct result of the Watergate Scandal, resulting in the North Vietnamese quickly escalating their conventional forces when they realised that the USA was not going to intervene.
After the North Vietnamese assault in December 1974 on South Vietnam, Thieu’s regime was essentially doomed as South Vietnam failed in all their battles against the North,
What happened during the end of the Vietnamese War, and why was this a failure for the USA?
The US congress rejected any requests for US aid from South Vietnam
On the 30th April 1975, South Vietnam surrendered to North Vietnam and this had been a failure as the Vietnamese Communists finally achieved their objective of a unified, socialist Vietnam.
How did problems continue to pursue in Cambodia?
The alliance of the Cambodian communist with the North Vietnamese communists saw the US do whatever possible to prevent the domination of communism in South-East of Asia.
USA eventually dropped 430,000 tonnes of bombs making it clearly apparent that negotiations would be a difficult outcome to arrive at, having seen the US’ continued use of violent tactics and deviation from its alleged ‘peace with honour’ ideal.
What were the Costs of the War for Vietnam?
Ford opposed Vietnam’s entry into the United Nations, isolating them from the wider international community
Ford also imposed a trade embargo on Vietnam which remained in place until 1994.
This had a major impact on Vietnam’s economic growth and had prevented economic relations with the West from developing
Severe damage had been caused to Vietnamese infrastructure.
How did the Vietnamese War cause a loss in American prestige?
Loss of American prestige
The USA lost much prestige due to the war and spent one hundred billion dollars.
Despite the USA’s superior military strength, it could not stop the spread of communism.
Around 100,000 Americans left the USA to avoid conscription, 2.7 million served in the war and 58,000 Americans died during the war.
What consequences did the failure of policy of containment have?
For the USA, the policy of containment had failed as domino Theory became a reality.
SEATO disbanded in 1976 as a direct result of the failure to contain communism in Indochina.
The actions of the USA in the neighbouring countries of Laos and Cambodia had helped to bring communist governments to power there too.
What were the Costs of the War for the USA?
58,000 Americans died in the War and when Veterans returned they had been ostracised by the peace movement for naively supporting US poliices.
When does Nixon resign, and who replaces him?
He resigns in 1974 and Ford becomes the new US president.
