3.4: Changes under Nixon, 1969-73 Flashcards
What was the Nixon Doctrine/ when was it
25 July 1969
The USA would follow through any existing support it had promised its allies and help them against nuclear attack.
However, the United States would only provide financial help and training against threats from countries with no nuclear capacity
Key features of Vietnamisation
Put the Nixon Doctrine into practice:
Withdraw troops from USA while making the USA appear that they hadn’t won
ARVN was to take over more of actual fighting, reduce US deaths
US focused on financial and training aid
Focused on preventing South Vietnam becoming a communist country
Why did Vietnamisation fail
The US training and equipment was not enough to ensure the ARVN was ready to take over for fighting.
The ARVN also suffered from corruption and desertion.
Differing public opinions of Vietnamisation
Differing idea of US troops in Vietnam
Most Americans wanted US troops to come home. They withdrew from 1968 onwards.
Many troops were not commited to fight/ kill officers to reduce opportunity of confilct / drug use increased within soldiers (mental and physical toll)
What happened during the Attack on Cambodia 1970
1970, Nixon sent US troops to Cambodia to stop the North Vietnamese from helping Cambodia’s communist to power there . The congress was outraged and cancelled 164
When was the Attack on Cambodia
1970
What happened during Laos
Air support given for a South Invsaion of Laos, to stop spread of communism. There was bloody fighting between the North and South Vietnamese did not fight well. This increase doubts how South Vietnam can hold back communism after US withdrawl
When was Laos
1971
When were the Bombing of North Vietnam
April 1972
What happened during the Bombing of North Vietnam
USA bombed North Vietnam in a heavy air raid to weaken it. The Haiphong harbour bombed to pevent supplues from China and USSR
Radio and communications were destroyed
/ North repuatation decreqsed / CHina and North Vietnam agreed to sign a peace deal
