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

Question 1

Timeline of Vietnamisation

Answer 1

• January 1969
- Nixon becomes president

• June 1969

• Nixon begins withdrawing troops
• Around 550,000 US troops in Vietnam

• 1968-1970
ARVN 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

• June 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

What was Nixon’s goal in Vietnam

Answer 4

To achieve peace with honour

Question 5

Why did Nixon adopt Vietnamisation?

Answer 5

• 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 6

What did Vietnamisation involve?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

When did Nixon begin to withdraw US troops?

Answer 7

• June 1969

Question 8

Describe the withdrawal of US troops in Vietnam

Answer 8

• June 1969
- Around 550,000

• January 1972
- Around 150,000

• June 1972
- 47,000

Question 9

How did Nixon strengthen the ARVN?

Answer 9

• 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 10

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

Answer 10

• Spring Offensive
• 1972
• ARVN resisted
• 8000 ARVN killed but North suffered x5 deaths

Question 11

What US bombing campaign aided the ARVN in the Spring offensive?

Answer 11

• Operation Linebacker I
• 150,000 tons of bombs dropped on North Vietnam and North Vietnamese troops operating in South
  -So ARVN success wasn’t only because of their capability

Question 12

When was operation Linebacker

Answer 12

-May-October 1972

Question 13

What were the issues with Vietnamisation?

Answer 13

• Morale of ARVN remained low
• Low US casualties replaced by high ARVN 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 14

Consequence of Vietnamisation

Answer 14

End of war, North run through South after US leave