Chapter 17: The USA and Southeast Asia Flashcards
1
Q
When did Paris Peace Talks start?
A
- July 1972
2
Q
What problems delayed an agreement?
A
- 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
3
Q
When was the peace agreement signed?
A
- January 1973
4
Q
What were the terms of the agreement?
A
- 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
5
Q
How could the North expand their actions?
A
- April 1973 - US withdrawn
- North escalated guerrilla action
- ARVN demoralised - even with US support mostly defeated
6
Q
How did the US not support SV?
A
- Watergate - attention diverted
- Thieu asks for aid, Ford asks Congress - refused
7
Q
How did SV fall?
A
- From political pressure - Thieu forced to resign and flee 1974
- 1975 - Saigon fell - unified socialist Vietnam made
8
Q
How was Cambodia a problem?
A
- 1970 - Lon Nol gained power - pro-US
- Khmer Rouge - opposed
- Civil war - US backed government forces, NV backed Khmer Rouge
9
Q
What strengths did the Cambodian Army have?
A
- US support - 119 military advisors, bombings 430,000 tonnes
- Public support
- 175,000
10
Q
What were weaknesses of the Cambodian army?
A
- Nol feared overthrow - didn’t let parts of the military collaborate
- Didn’t listen to US advice
- Bombings undermined support
- Poorly trained and paid
11
Q
What strengths did the Khmer Rouge have?
A
- Supported by NV
- Determined and organised
- Used guerrilla tactics
12
Q
What were weaknesses of the Khmer Rouge?
A
- Only 40,000
- Minimal urban presence
- Limited technology
13
Q
How did the Paris Peace agreement impact the Cambodian civil war?
A
- US stopped bombings
- NV withdrew
14
Q
How did the Khmer Rouge react?
A
- 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
15
Q
What was the Khmer Rouge revolution?
A
- 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