3.4 - Changes under Nixon, 1969-73

Question 1

What was the Nixon Doctrine? When was it said?

Answer 1

• President Nixon put forward his ideas about Vietnam and the USA, in 1969, known as the Nixon Doctrine.
• These ideas were : the USA would follow through on any exisiting support it had promised its allies and help them against nuclear attacks.
• However, the US would only provide financial help and training against threats from countries that did not have nuclear capacity - it would not provide soldiers.

Question 2

What was Vietnamisation?

Answer 2

Putting ideas behind Nixon Doctrine into practice.

Question 3

What were the key features of Vietnamisation?

Answer 3

• Nixon wanted US troops to withdraw from Vietnam, while also giving the appearance the USA had not lost the war.
• ARVN was to take over more of the actual fighting (would reduce number of US military deaths).
• US government focus to send money and advisers, not soldiers.
• USA’s aim was to ensure South Vietnam remained an independant, non-communist country.

Question 4

Why was Vietnamisation a failure?

Answer 4

• US training and equipment was not enough to ensure the ARVN was ready to take over fighting.
• ARVN suffered from corruption and desertion.

Question 5

Why and when was US troops withdrawn from Vietnam? What did this lead to?

Answer 5

• Most Americans wanted US troops to come home.
• Troops began to be withdrawn from 1968.
• Once soldiers knew they would be leaving, their desire to fight heavily reduced. Drug use rocketed among US troops.

Question 6

When were the attacks on Cambodia? What did this lead to?

Answer 6

• 1970 : Nixon sent USA troops to Cambodia to stop North Vietnamese from helping Cambodia’s communists to power there.
• Congress outraged; cancelled 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. They also reduced money for war and demanded faster troop reduction from Vietnam.

Question 7

Describe the attacks on Laos. What did this lead to?

Answer 7

• 1971 : USA gave air support for a South Vietnamese invasion of Laos (to stop spread of communism there).
• South Vietnamese did not fight well, increasing doubts about their ability to hold back communism in South Vietnam after US troops went home.

Question 8

When was the bombing of North Vietnam? What occurred there? What did this lead to?

Answer 8

• 1972 : USA bombed North Vietnam in heavy air raids to weaken it. All areas were targeted and mines dropped into Haiphong harbour to stop supplies from China and the USSR coming by sea.
• Radio communication destroyed; North Vietnamese war industry severely damaged.
• The bombing led to calls from the USSR and China for North Vietnam to sign a peace deal.