Paper 3: Vietnam Flashcards
What did Nixon promise?
- to get USA out of the war
- to tell truth abt war, many anrgy that Johnson lied abt the war
Nixon’s approaches to Vietnam War: OFFICIAL PEACE TALKS
5 days after becoming president, Nixon sent delegates to Paris to negotiate for peace w representatives from North & South Vietnam.
However, became clear, as delegates argued over sesting arrangements, that talks would be difficult
Nixon’s approaches to Vietnam War: SECRET PEACE TALKS
In August 1969, Henry Kissinger of USA began secret peace talks w Le Duc Tho of N, Vietnam. Nixon did not tell the S. Vietnamese or American public abt these talks
Nixon’s approaches to Vietnam War: TROOPS WITHDRAWAL
In June 1969, Nixon lowered maximum number of troops in Vietnam by 25,000
Nixon’s approaches to Vietnam War: AVRN TRAINING
The military in Vietnam, now led by General Abrams, told to focus on training AVRN (S. Vietnamese) officers & troops
Nixon’s approaches to Vietnam War: SECRET BOMBING OF CAMBODIA
On 15th March 1969, Nixon ordered secret bombings of parts of Ho Chi Minh Trail that ran through Cambodia - military reports lied abt bombing raids as Nixon knew this expanding of the war would be very unpopular
When was the Nixon Doctrine?
25th July 1969
What was the Nixon Doctrine?
Nixon gave a speech outlining what the ole of USA should he in Southeast Asia politics in future:
- USA would honour any treaty commitments it had made
- USA would help any ally against nuclear threat
- USA would provide aid & training against non-nuclear threats, but not troops
Impact of the Nixon Doctrine?
VIETNAMISATION: USA was to withdraw troops, but w/o looking like they had been defeated & w/o S. Vietnam becoming communist.
Key featured of VIETNAMISATION
- US troops withdrawn ‘with honour’ - not leaving S. Vietnam at mercy of N. Vietnam & VC
- AVRN were to provide own officers
- S. Vietnam would remain separate country & not becoming communist
Partial success of VIETNAMISATION
Succeeded in most basic aims: fewer US troops in Vietnam & fewer US deaths. However, some felt troops withdrawn too soon
Reactions to VIETNAMISATION
- Most US citizens welcomed fact that US troops would start to be
withdrawn - US generals & S. Vietnamese worried that the ARVN werent ready to fight alone.
- The communists saw Vietnamisation as a chance to gain the upper hand in the war.
Nixon invasion of Cambodia
In 1970, pro-American General Lon Nol took over in Cambodia & told N. Vietnamese to leave.
N. Vietnamese joined forces w Cambodian communist guerrilas & supported Sihanouk attacking Nol gov.
- Nixon invaded Cambodia to support Nol & save Cambodia from communism - 50,000 AVRN & 30,000 US troops
- Nixon knew this would create public outrage in USA, so kept secret
Results of Nixon invasion of Cambodia
- Significant damage to Ho Chi Minh Trail - weapons/supplies captured
- 11,000 communists killed & Nol’s gov kept in power
However - damage to Ho Chi Minh Trail didnt stop N. Vietnamese getting to S. Vietnam - simply used section of trail in neighbouring country = Laos
- huge public outcry in USA
Vietcong tactics: Guerrila warfare
Meant VC were, for both AVRN & US troops, a shadow enemy. Anyone could be a member of the VC - man, woman or child.
There was little distinction between ppl who helped the VC by supplying food/info & those fully committed members of VC - hard for US troops to tell their enemies from their allies
Vietcong tactics: VC tunnels
The Vietminh used tunnels to move ariund during war w French - VC did the same to move around easily w/o being detected, but tunnels were more complex
In Cu Chi area, just 25 miles from Saigon, VC built 100 miles of tunnels, on varying levels. Contained hospitals, weapons, storage, living space.
Vietnamese were often smaller than most Americans - too small to fit
US tactics: Operation Rolling Thunder
A mass bombing campaign over N. Vietnam aimed to destroy supply routes
US tactics: Strategic Hamlets
Diem set up large villages (surrounded by barbed wire & guarded by AVRN) - to stop VC from recruiting villagers/getting supplies from them. Aimed to make ppl feel safe, cared for and supportive of gov.
Diem’s gov ignored fact that villagers didnt want to leave their homes. They failed to provide enough food, many starved - unlikely to produce support for gov.
US tactics: Search & Destroy
Small units of US soldier searched jungle for VC camps & supplies - then called helicopters to bomb or spray chemicals on them.
Missions often on ground that VC already prepared w land mines/traps
US tactics: Chemical warfare
Variety of herbicides used to kill both jungle plants & crops in farmland around villages - to make VC bases easier to find, deliberately kill crops so villagers couldnt feed VC.
This defoliatian programme known as Operation Ranch Hand.
During war, herbicides were made in quicker process than normal to make huge amounts - produced a poison that didnt dissolve in water, so rain carried to streams/rivers, affectinf ppl who drank the water. It also stayed in the soil too & affected crops for decades –> public outrage in USA as causing many health problems
US tactics: Winning Hearts And Minds (WHAM)
Gave S. Vietnamese farming advice, built schools, vaccinated children to gain popularity/support
Reasons for growing opposition to the war
Short-term factors: events in Vietnam (eg. Tet Offensive) or presidential policy changes (eg. invading Cambodia) triggered opposition.
Long-term factors: rising death toll, loss or serious injury of family members, cost of war.
Other factors: student movements, the draft, media representation of the war
What was Tet Offensive?
30th January 1968, series of attacks on 26 cities & US bases in S. Vietnam. Began on Tet Lunar New Year.
In Saigon, N. Vietnamese troops & VC got into US embassy. Sight of VC in US embassy was huge shock to American public who had been told US were winning war.
Reasons for opposition: Student movement
Student became part of a ‘counter-culture’ - refusing to live by culteral rules of society
Used similar methods to civil rights campaigners (sit-ins, boycotts, marches). Anti-war protests, often burned draft cards
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)
As war went on, student protesters chanted slogans s/a, “Hey, hey LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?”
Reasons for opposition: the draft
Those selected for draft were send draft cards telling when/where to report. Created even more opposition to war as many felt it was unfair (argued draftees too young & not trained well enough so increased risk of death)
Reason for opposition: media coverage
First war to be widely watched on television & where reporters able to travel w troops into war zone providing uncensored footage.
Showed Americans the war in uncomfortable detail - losing faith in gov, became clear that gov were keeping info from them & even lying to them. Realised much more dangerous/fatal than ever imagined
Opposition in Congress
Presidents have to get Congress to pass laws, raise taxes & other funds for war. With Vietnam war dragging on, the costs were adding up detrimentally.
Support for the war: fear of communism
Immediately after WWII, Cold War fears in USA led to the ‘Red Scare’ (fear of communist revolution). This explains why US gov wanted only a limited war in Vietnam. USA didnt want to escalate Vietnam war to point of starting war w USSR.
Support for war: Patriotism
Love of, & loyalty to, one’s country
Many Americans fiercly patriotic, taught at home & school to obey authorities & be patriotic.
This meant when gov said they were to take part in Vietnam war to fight communism, they accepted & did so willingly - to not fight would be seen as letting country down & betraying what it stood for.
Support for war: the ‘silent majority’
On Nov 1969, Nixon made televised speech appealing for support of group he called ‘the great silent majority’ - Americans who supported his policites but did not actively campaign either for/against war.
A poll showed 77% of ppl supported Nixon’s policy in Vietnam, showeing support for the war when Nixon desperately needed it as trying to get N. Vietnamese to negotiating table - he could tell N. Vietnam that, despite anti-war movement demonstrations, he had support where it mattered.
Support for war: political support
No politician wanted USA to look as if it had been defeated by communist North Vietnam. However, those who wanted to end the war didnt want S. Vietnam to become communist - political support was complicated
Wanted to do what would make them popular (win votes & power) but didnt want USA to lose face.
Support for war: support in Congress
As time passed, Congress became less favourable to the war, but kept funding it bc:
- military kept assuring gov that victory was close
- didnt want USA (a rich & powerful country) to be beaten
My Lai Massacre, 1968
16th March 1968, US Charlie Company sent to village of My Lai, briefed that would come under VC fire (not the case). Over next 4hrs, troops, led by Lieutenant Calley, killed 347 innocent women, children, old men.
Media showed brutality of event –> mass publicity. Failed attempts from army to cover up massacre showed corruption
Kent State Shootings
4th May 1970, Ohio National guardsmen shot dead 4 unarmed students (2 of which not even protesters, 9 more injured) during protest on Kent State Uni campus against Vietnam war.
Public horrified/outraged by event (mainly bc involved white middle-class students). Mass opposition & unificatioj of students against war across country
Support for war: ‘Hard Hat’ Riot, 1970
After Kent State shooting, many anti-war protests all over country
At a NY protest on 8th May 1970, construction workers charged out (wearing hard hats) & beat up protesters. Moved on to City Hall to continue riot
