Confrontation and Cooperation, c1963-1972: Nixon's Policies in Vietnam - Vietnamisation

Question 1

Timeline of Vietnamisation

Answer 1

•January 1969
- Nixon becomes president
• lune 1969
• Nixon begins withdrawing troops
• Around 550,000 US troops in Vietnam
• 1968-1970
AVN increased in size from 82,000 in 1968 to 1 million by 1970
• 1972
- Spring Offensive
•January 1972
- Around 150,000 US troops in Vietnam
• May-October 1972
- Operation Linebacker I saw 150,000 tons of bombs dropped on
Vietnam
• lune 1972
- 47,000 US troops in Vietnam

Question 2

When did Nixon become President?

Answer 2

•January 1969

Question 3

Define Vietnamisation

Answer 3

• Shifting US dominance in the Vietnam War to the South
Vietnamese by withdrawing US troops

Question 4

Why did Nixon adopt Vietnamisation?

Answer 4

• To reduce growing domestic opposition to strengthen his own political security
• To encourage North Vietnam to negotiate as one of the
North’s aims was to secure US withdrawal
• To strengthen the South Vietnamese
• To minimise blame on the US if the South Vietnamese were to lose

Question 5

What did Vietnamisation involve?

Answer 5

• Withdrawing US troops
• Strengthening ARVN
• Reintroduction of bombing
• Invasion of Cambodia and Laos

Question 6

When did Nixon begin to withdraw US troops?

Answer 6

• lune 1969

Question 7

Describe the withdrawal of US troops in
Vietnam

Answer 7

• lune 1969
- Around 550.000
•January 1972
- Around 150,000
• lune 1972
- 47,000

Question 8

How did Nixon strengthen the ARVN?

Answer 8

• ARVN increased in size from 82,000 in 1968 to 1 million by 1970
• Introduced M-16 Armalite rifle
• Increase in weapons, planes and helicopters
• Troops paid more

Question 9

What event tested the ARVN’s strength? How did the ARVN do?

Answer 9

• Spring Offensive
• 1972
• ARVN resisted
• 8000 AVN killed: North suffered ×5 deaths

Question 10

What US bombing campaign aided the
ARVN?

Answer 10

• Operation Linebacker I
• May-October 1972
• 150,000 tons of bombs dropped on North Vietnam and North
Vietnamese troops operating in South

Question 11

What were the issues with Vietnamisation?

Answer 11

• Morale of ARVN remained low
• Low US casualties replaced by high AVN casualties
• High desertion rates
• ARVN still dependent on US
• Corruption remained and positions gained based on loyalty to Thieu, rather than on their skill

Question 12

What happened at my lai?

Answer 12

On March 1968, US troops carried out a search & destroy mission on the South Vietnamese village of My Lai
They didn’t find any VC, just villagers getting ready for market day, however, the troops carried out the massacre of unarmed civilians
C Company murdered up to 504 people including women and children
Some villagers (even those as young as 12) were gang raped & mutilated before being killed
Initially, the army covered up the incident - describing it as victory
The story was eventually broken by a journalist in 1969
Only 1 platoon leader - William Calley was convicted for killing 22 villagers - & sentenced to life imprisonment. However, he claimed he was only following orders & served just 3 and a half years under house
arrest