Booklet 3 Flashcards
Why wouldn’t Nixon admit defeat in Vietnam?
Wanted to secure peace with honour, proof to the world that the US military was still strong
Who was the main advisor?
Henry Kissinger
What was the US policy of Vietnamisation do?
Hand the water Vietnam, US money and air support would continue
What is Nixon secretly doing during the Vietnamisation?
Expanding the war and discussing nuclear weapons, bombing communist bases in Cambodia, years later he invaded Cambodia to test communist resolve
How did the US public respond to Nixon’s actions?
Protest at rent State University led to 4 dead students, further protest in Mississippi led to 2 more dead students
Nixon war background
When Nixon became president in January 1969, he promised “I’m not going to be like BJ I’m not going to stop that fast”, the USA reputation was being damaged as it couldn’t achieve a military victory, Exton couldn’t simply run away and look weak to the communist world who would then have the covenants to spread further, and wanted peace with honour which was to ensure that South Vietnam remained a non-communist state
What does Vietnamisation ?
LBJ policy of Americanisation had failed and Nixon replaced it with Vietnamisation.
Why was Vietnamisation introduced?
Nexen Hope to reduce the domestic opposition he was facing, strengthen his own position as a president, strengthen his negotiation with North Vietnam, strengthen the south Vietnamese against communism
What was the impact of Vietnamisation
The Vietnamese army was transformed into a modern fighting force which kept stability in the south, in 1972 and attempt invasion by the north failed with the north suffering 40,000 casualties to the south 8000, between May October 19 72 operations linebacker was so 150,000 tons of bombs dropped on north Vietnam this boosted moral amongst the ARV and proved that Vietnamisation was working
Did the Vietnamisation work for the US government?
No, because he lost support, didn’t have enough protection
Did Vietnamisation work for the US military?
Left and ran away from war
Did Vietnamisation work for the people of South Vietnam?
No, later became communist, defences were gone, didn’t have support
Improving relations with China and USSR
Policies of Nixon and Kissinger have to be viewed in the wider context of Cold War following the buildings of Berlin War and the Cuban missile crisis relations between the USA and the USSR had been gradually improving, the word “détente” was being used where constructive discussion work taking place between the superpowers
Widening of the war into Loas and Cambodia
Aim to increase pressure on North Vietnam the USA invaded Cambodia operation menu in March 1969 to destroy Viet Kong bases there were severe supply lines along the Hachi trailer give the South Vietnamese confidence and force north Vietnam to discuss peace
Bombing campaign of 1970 to 1972
In March 1972 the NVA and VC invaded the south led to 100 Soviet tanks as most US troops were gone. They were expected to win easily but next and needed to maintain the image of America strength so he ordered the bombing of the north in April 1972 the bombing offence was called operation linebacker and it destroyed North Vietnamese roads bridges lorries, tanks railway lines storage depots And the port of Haiphong