Chapter 17: The USA and Southeast Asia Flashcards
When did Paris Peace Talks start?
- July 1972
What problems delayed an agreement?
- Nixon would not act until after the elections
- After re-election - bombed Hanoi + cities - to pressure NV
- Thieu - hoped to keep some US military to deter NV
- Thieu - side-lined and pressured to sign
When was the peace agreement signed?
- January 1973
What were the terms of the agreement?
- Ceasefire
- Sides keep the areas they occupy at the time of the ceasefire
- US withdrawal within 60 days
- Exchange of prisoners of war
- Commission for post war SV elections to be made
- Free elections could include a referendum for reunification
How could the North expand their actions?
- April 1973 - US withdrawn
- North escalated guerrilla action
- ARVN demoralised - even with US support mostly defeated
How did the US not support SV?
- Watergate - attention diverted
- Thieu asks for aid, Ford asks Congress - refused
How did SV fall?
- From political pressure - Thieu forced to resign and flee 1974
- 1975 - Saigon fell - unified socialist Vietnam made
How was Cambodia a problem?
- 1970 - Lon Nol gained power - pro-US
- Khmer Rouge - opposed
- Civil war - US backed government forces, NV backed Khmer Rouge
What strengths did the Cambodian Army have?
- US support - 119 military advisors, bombings 430,000 tonnes
- Public support
- 175,000
What were weaknesses of the Cambodian army?
- Nol feared overthrow - didn’t let parts of the military collaborate
- Didn’t listen to US advice
- Bombings undermined support
- Poorly trained and paid
What strengths did the Khmer Rouge have?
- Supported by NV
- Determined and organised
- Used guerrilla tactics
What were weaknesses of the Khmer Rouge?
- Only 40,000
- Minimal urban presence
- Limited technology
How did the Paris Peace agreement impact the Cambodian civil war?
- US stopped bombings
- NV withdrew
How did the Khmer Rouge react?
- Escalated their efforts
- Started a battle over Phnom Penh
- Used pincer strategy to isolate the city
- Government forces dug trenches
- US evacuated
- Khmer Rouge defeated government forces
What was the Khmer Rouge revolution?
- Ruthless ideological cleansing - wanted to create a new agricultural society
- Cities emptied - workers sent to countryside to be farmers
- 1 mil killed in the revolution - over 10% population
How did the Khmer Rouge end?
- Had border disputes with Vietnam
- Vietnam invaded 1978
- Vietnam and Soviet aid captured Phnom Penh
- Pro Vietnam Samrin put in - Khmer Rouge fled
What were US societal costs of the Vietnam War?
- 58,000 soldiers lost
- 2.7 million served - over 9% population
- Veterans found reintegration hard - ostracised by anti wars, PTSD, disabilities
- 100,000 draft dodgers fled - clemency board gave amnesty - many disagreed
What were US political costs to the Vietnam War?
- $167 billion spent
- Johnson didn’t run for re-election
- Clear division between Hawks and Doves - continued
- War Powers Act passed - only congress can declare war - not president
How was containment impacted by the Vietnam War?
- Lost SV and Cambodia
- Domino theory correct - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos
- SEATO disbanded 1976
- US lost prestige internationally
What were casualties of the war for Vietnam?
- 1.1 million NLF killed
- 100,000 - 330,000 SV killed
- Civilian casualties 1.3 - 9 million
- 1.5 million fled as refugees
What were political impacts of the war on Vietnam?
- USA barred them from the UN
- US put in trade embargo - crippled the economy
- Communist economic structure and collectivised agriculture put in south
How was infrastructure in Vietnam impacted by the war?
- US military tactics of chemical warfare and bombings, destroyed infrastructure and 6 million acres of land poisoned
