Foreign Policy Flashcards
peace and negotiations and continuation of the war in Vietnam and Cambodia
Nixon had long been a hardline cold warrior in Vietnam. Throughout the 1960s he urged Johnson to escalate insisting that ‘Vietnam is essential to the survival of freedom’. And yet, as president, he withdrew the US from Vietnam
why did he withdraw the US from vietname
The Tet Offensive convinced him that America needed to withdraw and hand the conduct of the war over to the South Vietnamese.
The world had changed since Ike had established South Vietnam. Sino-Soviet divisions had destroyed the supposedly monolithic communist bloc and thereby decreased the communist threat
In his inaugural address, Nixon said ‘the greatest honour history can bestow is the title of peacemaker’
He knew that vietnam had ruined Johnsons presidency
what did Nixon seek with vietnam
peace with honour that would allow the continued existence of an anti-communist south Vietnam under the leadership of Thieu
nixons methods with vietnam
Vietnamisation
Nixon Doctrine
Diplomatic Pressure on the USSR and China
Military pressure on NV till it agreed to his peace terms
why was Nixon forced to make concessions concerning vietnam
To quieten down the anti-war protests
vietnamisation
Vietnamization was a strategy that aimed to reduce American involvement in the Vietnam War by transferring all military responsibilities to South Vietnam. Use of large scale bombing
Escalate to prepare for peace- bomb aircraft
bases as well as Laos and Cambodia
“Mad man” theory – Kissinger persuaded the
North Vietnamese that Nixon was irrational.
nixon doctrine
the belief that america’s Asian allies should fight their own battles
1969
Nixon bombed the Ho Chi Minh Trail to sever enemy supply lines and pressure north Vietnam into a peace agreement. Nothing worked, peace was no nearer and despite Nixon’s troop withdrawals millions participated in the anti-war protests of autumn 1969 - the moratorium. In Nov, 250,000 peaceful marchers converged on Washington, and 40,000 walked past the white house each carrying a candle.
what divided americans further
The exposure of the massacre of civilians by American soldiers at the South Vietnamese village of My Lai back in 1968 divided Americans further.
1970
Nixon appeared to be escalating the war even as he withdrew troops he carpet-bombed North Viet anti-aircraft bases and the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos and Cambodia and sent 30,000 American and south vietnamese soldiers into Cambodia. Peace seemed no closer and the Cambodian offence caused many protests. 50% of Americans polled approved 39% disapproved. Congress threatened to cut off Nixon’s money for war as he became an imperial president
1971
Nixon tested Vietnamisation in 1971, 5000 SV troops began the Lam Son offensive in Laos but the communists routed them with the help of new Soviet equipment. Negotiations with NV went badly even though Nixon conceded that NV would not have to withdraw its troops from SV. The only progress Nixon made was in detente, which urged the USSR and China to pressure NV for a compromise
1972
Nixon bombed Hanoi while congress threatened to cut off funds. Silent majority backed him. Christmas bombings
ways NV was driven towards a settlement
Bombing
American concessions
Sino-soviet pressure
Nixons likely re-election
what peace agreement was signed with vietnam and when
Paris Peace Accords 1973
Paris Peace Accords 1973
Recognised the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of North Vietnam
Ceasefire 27th January 1973
Nixon promised billions to help reconstruct North Vietnam
Thieu to stay in power and Nixon to help maintain South Vietnam
North Vietnamese forces to stay in SV but could not fight or increase troops
Was this peace with honour?