Changes To Us Involvement Under Nixon Flashcards
What was the nixon doctrine
It was a doctrine that laid out what the role of the USA should be in southeast asian politics in the future it included:
The USA would honour any treaty commitments made
The USA would help any ally against a nuclear threat
The USA would provide aid and training against non nuclear threats but not troops
What did Nixon do to fufil his promise of getting the USA out of the war
He held public and private peace talks,began to withdraw troops,focused on training ARVN and did the secret bombing of cambodia
What is ‘Vietnamisation’
The word used for the application of the Nixon Doctrine.They were to remove troops but not make it look like they had been defeated so instead claimed they were ‘shifting the responsibility for fighting’ to the ARVN
Was vietnamisation sucessful
(All up to personal opinion) however vietnamisation achieved it’s most basic aim which was to withdraw the troops however many didn’t see it as a success as they felt US troops were bieng withdrawn too soon as they didn’t think the ARVN could handle the communist threat and it could spread
What were the reactions to vietnamisation
Many US citizens were happy that their troops were returning however many generals wanted them to stay and continue fighting,The north vietnamese/communists were happy as it gave them an upper hand in the war
Why did Nixon decide to expand the war into cambodia
He had secretly been bombing the Ho chi minh trail which partially ran through cambodia since 1969,However the North vietnamese and Khmer Rouge (cambodian communist guerrillas) joined forces who were attacking the anti communist new cambodian goverment.Nixon wanted to support this leader of cambodia so sent in 50,000 ARVN troops and 30,000 US troops
What were the limitations on US troops in cambodia in order to lessen public outrage
Nixon only allowed the troops to go 19 miles across the border and had to be out by 30th of june 1970
What were the results of the invasion of Cambodia in 1970
Significant damage was done to the Ho Chi Minh Trail,Nol’s goverment was kept in power and 11,000 communists were killed,communist bases and other supply networks were destroyed however many communists could just pull back into safe spots away from the 19 miles allowed and could use the ho chi minh trail in neighbouring country laos
When was the invasion of cambodia
April 1970
What happened in Laos in 1971
Due to many groups struggling for power and some of these being communist with the USA ‘advising’ their opponents and the Ho Chi Minh trail being used through Laos the ARVN pushed for an invasion the USA didn’t want to fight but agreed to provide air support
When was the Easter Offensive
30th March 1972
What was the Easter offensive
Both operations in Cambodia and Laos had ended and US troops were continuing the be withdrawn however the North Vietnamese attacked suddenly with a full scale invasion of South Vietnam,It started very successfully however the North Vietnamese were eventually pushed back
What was operation Linebacker a response to and when was it
6th april 1972,In response to the easter offensive
What was operation Linebacker
Heavy bombing of North vietnam and blockades to keep ships from china and the USSR from reaching North Vietnam
What were the consequences of operation Linebacker
Almost wiped out the North Vietnamese war industry
Severely disrupted supplies from the USSR and China
Destroyed radio stations and communication
Led to China and the USSR urging the north to reach a peace settlement
Why did Vietnamisation Fail
US Troops:Knew they would be going home soon so would avoid battles
The ARVN:Didn’t have enough soldiers,Many soldiers left the army,Troops were struggling in combat ,Lots of corruption in the ARVN
Training and Equipment:Congress over time reduced funding for weapons and training was often hurried due to the ARVN needing soldiers
Economic/Political problems in south Vietnam:Giverment was corrupt and there was a financial crisis,Goverment in Saigon fell
What was the paris agreement and when was it signed
27th January 1973,Signed by USA,North Vietnam,South Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Goverment (in South Vietnam) this set up a ceasefire and a timetable for peaceful reunification of Vietnam
Why did the Paris agreement fail
The south Vietnamese goverment refused to negotiate with the communists
When did South Vietnam get defeated
March 1975,North Vietnam swept through the south and united Vietnam as communist
