Changes Under Nixon , 1969-73

Question 1

When was the Nixon Doctrine

Answer 1

25 July 1969

Question 2

What was the Nixon Doctrine

Answer 2

Gave a speech outlining his idea about Vietnam

Question 3

What did the Nixon Doctrine do

Answer 3

It laid down what the role of the USA should be in Southeast Asia politics in the future

Question 4

What did the Nixon Doctrine say / consist of

Answer 4

USA wouls honour any treaty commitments it had made
USA would help an ally against nuclear threat
USA would rpvode aid and training against non nuclear threats but not troopa.The country would have to procide their own troops

Question 5

What was Vietnamisation

Answer 5

An application of the Nixon Doctrine

Question 6

What were the features of Vietnamisation

Answer 6

US troops to be withdrawn
ARVN was tomprlvide its own officers
US was still tomprovide training and equipment
Us withdrawal would be done “with honour” - not leaving Vietnam at the mercy of NV and VC
SV would remain a separate country and not become communist

Question 7

Where did Vietnamisation shift the responsibility of training

Answer 7

Shifted the responsibility for fighting, and so casualties increased in ARVN

Question 8

How did Vietnamisation succeed ?

Answer 8

It succeeded its basic aim - fewer Us troops in Vietnam and fewer US deaths

Question 9

Why did others think Vietnamisation did not succeed ?

Answer 9

Some felt US troop withdrawal was too early .Some US military advisors wanted to send in more troops after Tet Offensive - they predicted a real chance of defeating thr VC and NV

Question 10

When did American troops begin to be withdrawn

Answer 10

From 1968 onwards

Question 11

What was the soldiers response to knowing they would be withdrawn

Answer 11

Once soldiers knew they would soon be leaving , their desire to fight was severely reduced.
Many tried to avoid battle and some killed officers to stolp them leading them into situations where their lives were at risk.

Question 12

How dis Nixon expand the war

Answer 12

Cambodia 1970
Laos 1971

Question 13

What was going on in Cambodia

Answer 13

In March 1970, pro American General Nol took over Cambodia and told the NV to leave.NV joined forces with the Cambodian communists guerillas
US generals urged Nixon to invade Cambodia

Question 14

How did Nixon react to the US general urging him to invade Cambodia ?

Answer 14

In 1970, despite public hostility , Nixon sent US troops to Cambodia to stop the NV from helping Cambodian’s communists tompower there .
About 50,000 ARVN
30,000 US troops invaded

Question 15

What was the reult after Nixon sent troops to Cambodia

Answer 15

About 11,000 communists were killed
Nolks government was kept in place.
Communist bases and other supply networks were desteoyed

Question 16

Key detail about Nixon sending troops

Answer 16

He kept it secret

Question 17

Consequences of the attack on Cambodia

Answer 17

Significant damage to the Ho Chi Minh Trail.Hundreds of acres of jungle was destroyed.
Weapons and supplies were captured from the hiding places along the Trail.

Congress was outraged and cancelled the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
Congress also reduced money for war and demanded faster troop reductions

Question 18

In what year did the ARVN invade Laos

Answer 18

1971

Question 19

How did the US get involved in the ARVN invasion of Laos

Answer 19

USA gave air support to the ARVN to stop the spread of communism .

Question 20

What happened between the communists in Laoa and the ARVN

Answer 20

There was bloody fighting between South and North Vietnamese in Laos.
Thr South Vietnamese did not fight well, increasing doubts about their ability to hold back communism in South Vietnam after US troops went home

Question 21

When was the bombing of North Vietnam 1972 ?

Answer 21

In April 1972, the USA bombed the North Vietnam in hwavy raids to weaken it

Question 22

What areas of North Vietnam was bombed in North Vietnam

Answer 22

All areas were targeted and mines were dropped into Haiphong harbour to stop supplies from China and USSR coming by sea

Question 23

What was damage caused by the bombing of North Vietnam in 1972 ?

Answer 23

Severely disrupted supplies from USSR and China
Almost wiped out the NV war industry
Destroyed radi stations and other communications were destroyed

Question 24

What happened as a result of the bombing of North Vietnam

Answer 24

Led to China and USSR urging the NV to reach a peace settlement