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History - Cold War > Chapter 14: President Nixon's Policies in Vietnam > Flashcards

Chapter 14: President Nixon's Policies in Vietnam Flashcards

Vietnamisation, Cambodia, Laos, China, Peace talks

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1
Q

When did Nixon become president and for what party?

A
  • Jan 1969
  • Republican
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2
Q

What was Nixon’s aims in Vietnam?

A
  • End war quickly
  • Keep SV independent and non communist
  • Peace with honour
  • Concern about public opinion - esp after My Lai massacre 1968
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3
Q

What were the aims of Vietnamisation?

A
  • To strengthen ARVN to be more effective
  • Reduce ground troops numbers
  • Hope to achieve peace by strengthening their negotiating position
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4
Q

What actions were taken for Vietnamisation?

A
  • Troop withdrawal –> June 1969 - 543,000, June 1972 - 47,000
  • Professionalised the actions of ARVN -> inc pay, career structure, equipment -> 82,000 1968 - 1mil 1970
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5
Q

How was Vietnamisation a success?

A
  • ARVN now able to resist - 1972 spring offensive - had 5x less casualties than NV
  • Op Linebacker - 150,000 tonnes bombs - boosted morale
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6
Q

How did Vietnamisation fail?

A
  • ARVN - low morale, high casualties, corruption, high desertions, still dependent on US aid
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7
Q

When did the war enter Cambodia and what was the operation?

A
  • March 1969
  • Operation Menu
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8
Q

What were the aims of entering Cambodia?

A
  • Destroy HCM trail
  • Show commitment to SV
  • Compensate for withdrawals from SV
  • Pressure NV into a settlement
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9
Q

Why was Cambodia an increasing concern?

A
  • 1970 - Cambodian leader overthrown by pro-US general Lon Nol
  • NV back the opposing communist party - Khumer Rouge - led by Pol Pot
  • Fear of communism spreading to Cambodia
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10
Q

How was Cambodia a success?

A
  • NLF prevented by bombings
  • Supplies destroyed and captured
  • Reduced possibility of a NV offensive
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11
Q

How did Cambodia fail?

A
  • NV strengthen communist support
  • No strategic US gains
  • US inc commitment while trying to withdraw
  • Inc domestic criticism
  • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution revoked
  • Troops banned from anywhere except Vietnam by Congress
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12
Q

What was a domestic impact to these campaigns?

A
  • Inc criticism esp after My Lai massacre
  • 4 students shot at Kent state uni by guardsmen 1970
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13
Q

When did the war spread to Laos and what was the operation?

A
  • Feb 1971
  • Operation Lan Son 719
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14
Q

What was the nature of the invasion of Laos?

A
  • Air support only –> troops banned from anywhere but Vietnam by Congress
  • Fear of a push from communism - yr of elections, expect a communist attack
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15
Q

What were the aims of the campaign in Laos?

A
  • To disrupt the HCM trail
  • Prevent a NV offensive
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16
Q

What was the impact of entering Laos?

A
  • ARVN forced to withdraw - showed weakness
  • Bleak prospects, SV can only be helped with US support
  • Chances of winning = slim
  • Spurred NV to an offensive position
17
Q

Why were Sino - Soviet relations deteriorating?

A
  • Chinese isolation - pull to west - feel the US is a lesser threat than USSR
18
Q

How did US - Chinese relations closen?

A
  • US remove trade controls and travel restrictions to China (artichoke approach)
  • Contacts in France, Pakistan, Romania - show willingness to China
  • Hope to gain Chinese support by pressuring NV to peace talks
19
Q

What was the role of Kissinger?

A
  • Believed in détente
  • Wanted improved Chinese relations - to incentivise USSR to better US relations
  • Had a key role in negotiations - improved relations - brokered Paris Peace accords 1973
20
Q

What happened in the beginning of the Paris Peace talks?

A
  • March 1968 - Johnson shows intentions of peace
  • May - negotiations break down
  • US doubted NV sincerity so didn’t stop bombings, disagreements on inclusion of NLF, NV didn’t want to look weak after Tet
21
Q

How did the peace talks progress under Nixon?

A
  • Feb 1970 - Kissinger met secretly with Le Duc Tho - advisor to NV
  • NV insist on replacement of SV pres, coalition in Saigon including NLF
  • Chinese pressure the US to accept realistic agreement - US refuse - ousting SV pres would leave SV unstable and US allies exposed and NLF had done great damage to US troops
22
Q

How did NV respond to the progression of talks?

A
  • 1972 - NV moderate their stance on SV president
  • Help to keep negotiations going while continuing the ground war to wear down US resolve

History - Cold War (19 decks)

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