De-escalation of US Involvement in Vietnam

Question 1

When did Nixon give permission for the bombing of Cambodia?

Answer 1

March 1969

Question 3

What did Nixon decide to destroy before the majority of US troops left?

Answer 3

As many Vietcong bases as possible

Question 4

Where were many of the Vietcong bases located?

Answer 4

Just inside the borders of neighbouring Cambodia

Question 5

What was the operation to invade Cambodia called?

Answer 5

Operation Menu

Question 6

What happened as a consequence of Operation Menu?

Answer 6

Bombing failed to destroy VC bases

Pushed Hanoi further away from negotiation tables (both secret and official ones in Paris) until US withdrew

Question 7

What did Nixon order as a result of the failed Operation Menu?

Answer 7

Invasion of Cambodia by ground troops

Question 8

How many US soldiers did Nixon announce were needed in Vietnam? What did this provoke?

Answer 8

150,000 more

A wave of demonstrations across the USA eg Kent State

Question 9

Where were the Vietcong being supplied from via the Ho Chi Minh Trail?

Answer 9

North Vietnam, running through Cambodia and Laos

Question 10

When did Nixon commit ground troops to Cambodia?

Answer 10

April 1970

Question 11

Why was the invasion of Cambodia with ground troops successful?

Answer 11

Bases and supplies destroyed

Chance of a Northern attack on the South reduced

Question 13

What talks did Nixon begin in 1970 with USSR to limit nuclear weapons?

Answer 13

Strategic Arms Limitations Talks

Question 14

Why did Khmer Rouge membership grow rapidly between 1970 and 1971?

Answer 14

Local population in Cambodia was unhappy about poorly disciplined US troops
Up until 1970 Khmer Rouge had very little support form the peasants but they were able to appeal to peasants and claim that Cambodia was going to be taken over by USA

Question 15

When did the AVRN begin to attack North Vietnamese troops in Laos?

Answer 15

February 8th 1971

Question 17

By early 1971, what did Nixon’s Vietnamisation programme mean?

Answer 17

A large section of the AVRN was trained and equipped

Question 18

What was Nixon determined to disable in Laos?

Answer 18

Ho Chi Minh Trail

Question 19

Why couldn’t Nixon commit any more ground troops to Laos? What did he have to use instead?

Answer 19

The public and the Senate has turned against sending further troops being used
Had to use AVRN soldiers with US air support- helicopters, bombs and artillery

Question 20

What Operation did Nixon launch in Laos?

Answer 20

Operation Lam Son 719

Question 21

When was Operation Lam Son 719 activated?

Answer 21

February 1971

Question 22

How many AVRN troops were sent into Laos?

Answer 22

30,000

Question 23

What showed Vietnamisation was failing?

Answer 23

AVRN troops sent to Laos were soon beaten by superior North Vietnamese troops
Highlighted US’ weakness in leadership

Question 24

What did Operation Lam Son 719 increase support for?

Answer 24

The communists in Laos known as Pathetic Lao

Question 25

Who controlled most of Laos by 1973?

Answer 25

Pathet Lao

Question 26

Following what events had the relationship between the USA and USSR been improving?

Answer 26

Berlin Wall

Cuban Missile Crisis

Question 27

When did Kissinger visit Beijing?

Answer 27

July 1971

Question 28

What word was being used when constructive discussions were taking place between the superpowers?

Answer 28

Détente- easing of hostility or strained relations

Question 29

Why did the Chinese and Soviets have a worsening relationship?

Answer 29

Disagreed over how to correctly run a Communist country

Shots fired across the border

Question 30

What was the purpose of Operation Menu?

Answer 30

Destroy Vietcong bases there
Sever supply lines along the Ho Chi Minh Trail
Give the AVRN more confidence
Force North Vietnam to negotiate peace

Question 31

When was Nixon invited to China? Why was it significant and what did he ask?

Answer 31

February 1972, he was the first US president to visit the communist state of China
Asked the Chinese to pressurise the North Vietnamese to end the war

Question 32

What was the Operation of North Vietnam called?

Answer 32

Operation Linebacker

Question 33

What did the USA want to take advantage of?

Answer 33

China and USSR’s worsening relationship

Question 34

Why did Nixon order the bombing of North Vietnam in April 1972?

Answer 34

In March 1972 the NVA and VC invaded the South expecting to win easily as most US troops were gone
Nixon needed to maintain the image of US strength

Question 35

What did Operation Linebacker destroy?

Answer 35

North Vietnamese roads, tank, railway lines and storage depots
The Port of Haiphong

Question 36

What did Nixon use for precise bombing during Linebacker?

Answer 36

Smart bombs guided by lasers

Question 37

What did Nixon hope to stop through Linebacker?

Answer 37

Invasion of the south by cutting of supplies to the North

Question 38

What was Operation Linebacker greeted by in the US and around the world?

Answer 38

Huge protests

Question 39

What were the NVA and VC led by when they invaded in March 1972?

Answer 39

100 Soviet tanks

Question 41

What did Nixon want to achieve through showing US power and resolve?

Answer 41

Peace

Question 42

Where was the USA trying to improve relations?

Answer 42

Communist China and Mao Zedong

USSR

Question 43

Who were the troops fighting against in Cambodia?

Answer 43

Communist Khmer Rouge movement under Pol Pot

Question 52

Why did Nixon visits USSR in May 1972?

Answer 52

To ask Moscow to our pressure on the North Vietnamese to end the Vietnam War

Question 54

When did Nixon visit USSR?

Answer 54

May 1972