Conflict & Tension in Asia: the ending of conflict in Vietnam Flashcards
Who was campaigning To become president in 1968 at a time in the war was increasingly unpopular in the US
Nixon
Who was elected president in the US in November 1968
Nixon
What did Nixon promise as the new president of the US in November 1968
The war would continue until peace with honour could be achieved
What did President Nixon announce the strategy off on the 3rd of November 1969
Vietnamisation
What was the idea behind the policy of Vietnamisation
strategy was to build up South Vietnamese army (ARVN) to such a high level they could carry on the war against the Vietcong and North Vietnamese without the help of the US troops
Why couldn’t Nixon withdraw troops immediately from Vietnam
He knew that it would take time to train and equip the ARVN
What decision was made by Nixon before the majority of US troops left Vietnam
To destroy as many of the Vietcong bases as possible
many of the Vietcong bases were located inside borders of neighbouring Cambodia
Vietcong were also being supplied by the Ho Chi Minh Trail that ran from North Vietnam through Cambodia and Laos
What did Nixon give permission for and when after deciding before the US troops would leave Vietnam to destroy as many of the Vietcong bases as possible
March 1969
Nixon gave permission for bombing of Cambodia
in an attempt to destroy Ho Chi Minh Trail and Vietcong bases
What did Nixon decide to do to avoid international protest
Keep the bombing of Vietcong bases and the Ho Chi Minh Trail a secret
Was the bombing Of the Vietcong bases and Ho Chi Minh Trail a success what then occurred
what did this decision after the previous bombings provoke
Bombing failed
So in April 1970 Nixon ordered the invasion of Cambodia by US troops
Also announced that 150,000 more US soldiers were needed
This provoked a wave of demonstrations across the USA
What occurred on the 8th of February 1971
The USA back to South Vietnamese invasion of Leos to block the Ho Chi Minh Trail
How did the US assist the attack in Laos
The operation was supported by US helicopters bombers and artillery
Was the attack on Laos a success
No ARVN forces were soon beaten back
North Vietnamese then launched a major attack on South Vietnam in the spring of 1972
American troops had mostly lost all enthusiasm
Who was Nixon secretary of state
Henry Kissinger
What was the word to describe the relations between the USA and the USSR gradually improving
Détente
what is détente
A situation where differences were not forgotten but constructive discussions could take place over disagreements
Name four ways the USSR and China tries to improve relations with the USA
The USSR began talks in 1970 to limit amount of nuclear weapons held by USA and USSR
President Nixon also asked Soviets to put pressure on North Vietnamese to end Vietnam War
In February 1972
Was invited to China and became the first US president to visit the communist state
Nixon asked China to encourage North Vietnamese to end the war
How was the Vietnam war covered by the media
The war was widely reported by journalists on TV and newspapers in more detail than any other war
What was the coverage
of the Vietnam war like due to the media in the early stages of the war
In early stages of the war the media followed official line of policy
The relationship between the US military and government and the media was relatively good at start of war
Journalists were provided with transport to war areas and were allowed to interview with commanders
in return were expected not to reveal any information which would help the enemy
what years did the medias tone of reporting on Vietnam begin to change
1967 and 1968
How did the media cover the events in Vietnam in 1967 in 1968
The tone of reporting was beginning to change
US TV networks CBS showed US Marines using zippo lighters to set fire to Vietnam villages homes
US public saw executions on Vietcong suspects occur
US public also saw the horrific events of the Tet Offensive
What was opponents view of the Impact of the media coverage on the number of people protesting against war after 1967
Many opponents claimed that the media didn’t have an in fluence on the number of people protesting against war
American attitudes were 10 against the Vietnam war by 1967 anyway
Casualties of war weariness were the reasons why support for the war dropped - not the media
Shocking scenes were very rare on the TV screen
Opposition to the war came from many sources name 7 of the sources
Media coverage
The number of dead and injured US soldiers
Opposition to the draft
The civil rights movement
Lack of support for South Vietnamese government
Opposition from US politicians
The US wasn’t winning
How did Media coverage Lead to opposition to the war
images & stories of civilian casualties, poor discipline and drugtaking in the army horrified many Americans and turned them against the war
How did the number of dead and injured US soldiers increase opposition to the war
The shock of seeing so many men returning from the war with crippling injuries increased opposition to the war
How did opposition to the draft increase the overall opposition to the war
was intense hatred for draft as many young ppl began to question whether a war which cost lives of 300 Americans a week was really worth it
How did the civil rights movement increased opposition to the war
Civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King spoke out against the war and this would’ve influenced others
Why was the anti-war movement particularly strong among students on university and college campuses
For the war symbolise government control and authority something they wanted to rebel against
as they didnt want to be drafted to fight in the war they did not believe in
Hippy culture was also popular at this time with the key themes of it being peace and love
What occurred on the 15th of November 1969
The largest anti-war protest in US history took place in Washington with around 500,000 people gathering to his speeches and sing songs about entering the wall
What occurred at Kent State University in 1970
Students organise a demonstration against President Nixon’s decision to invade Vietnam’s neighbour Cambodia
Panics National Guard troopers open fire on the demonstrators
How many people were killed in the Kent State University Demonstration
How many were injured
4 students were killed
9 were injured
What were the impacts of the Kent State shootings
Hundreds of colleges and universities were closed across the country as 2 million students refused to attend classes
What happened just over a month later after the Kent State University shootings
police opened fire during a demonstration at Jackson State College an all black college in Mississippi
killing 2 students and injuring 12
What was Nixon’s main priority by 1972
Nixon’s main priority was to get re-elected
What was the Watergate scandal and what did it lead to
The Watergate scandal occurred when Nixon was linked to a burglary at the offices of Nixon’s rival party the Democrats
It led to Nixon being Resigned
What were burglars caught found to be doing in the Watergate scandal
Bugging telephones and stealing secret documents
How did the Watergate scandal have a major impact on US politics
It led many to question their leadership and think more critically about the presidency
How was the media is coverage of the USA’s role in the war more negative
Journalist began to feature more stories about the defeat of US troops in battle
There were more news film showing civilian and military casualties
More news stories about Paul Mcgrail and behaviour of the troops
Media coverage of Maeline massacre in March 1968 damaged the image of US troops even further
Who was the best news reader in the US at the time
Walter Conkrite
What was the Nixon’s approach to ending the war
name 4 things
Vietnamisation
pressure-
Negotiation
Bombing
What was Nixon’s idea behind using Vietnamisation as a strategy to end the war
From 1969 Nixon built up the army of South Vietnam war steadily reducing the number of US soldiers fighting there
What was Nixon’s idea behind using pressure as a strategy to end the war
Nixon pressurised leaders of South Vietnam to try and compromise with North Vietnam and asked China and USSR to pressurise North Vietnam into make a deal
What was Nixon’s idea behind using negotiation as a strategy to end the war
Nixon’s national-security adviser Henry Kissinger began talks with North Vietnam in 1969 hoping to bring about a ceasefire
What was Nixon’s idea behind using bombing as a strategy to end the war
in order to convince the Communist to look for peace he also increase the heavy bombing of North Vietnam as well as on supply routes in the countries of Laos and Cambodia
When was the Paris peace agreement signed and who was it signed by?
January 1973
was signed by North Vietnam South Vietnam in the USA
What had Nixon promised to the South Vietnam forces after the Paris agreement
However who prevented this promise and why
promised continuing financial aid and military support to Vietnam
The Congress refused to allow it they didn’t want to waste American money
