The Brezhnev Era, 1972–1985: the USA and SE Asia - Northern Victory

Question 1

Outline main events leading to Northern victory

Answer 1

• January 1973

• Paris Peace Agreement finalised
• Revealed that president’s employees bugged Democrats’ offices in Watergate Hotel

• By end March 1973
- All US military forces withdrawn from South Vietnam

• August 1974
- Nixon resigns

• December 1974
- North Vietnamese assault showed Thieu’s regime doomed

• 21 April 1975
- Thieu resigns and flees from country

• 30 April 1975
- South Vietnam surrenders to North

Question 2

Paris Peace Agreement

Answer 2

• Ratified in January 1973
• US had to put pressure on Thieu to sign it
• Thieu understood this was the beginning of the end for South Vietnam

Question 3

When was the Paris Peace Agreement finalised?

Answer 3

• January 1973

Question 4

Withdrawal of US troops

Answer 4

• US withdrawal and aid

• By end of March 1973, all US military forces were out of Vietnam
• US promised aid including over $1 billion in armaments, giving South Vietnam the world’s fourth largest air force

• North’s response to withdrawal

• Withdrawal led to the intensification of the North’s guerrilla campaign in the South
• North escalated their conventional forces after realising US wouldn’t intervene

• ARVN

• ARVN unable to cope with NLF’s hit-and-run tactics, further demoralising it
• Following North Vietnamese assault in December 1974, Thieu’s regime was doomed
• ARVN defeated on all occasions following this

Question 5

By what point had all US military forces been taken out of South Vietnam?

Answer 5

• By end of March 1973, all US military forces were out of Vietnam

Question 6

What aid did the US give following the withdrawal of troops?

Answer 6

• Over $1 billion in armaments

- Giving South Vietnam the world’s fourth largest air force

Question 7

At which North Vietnamese assault did it become clear that Thieu’s regime was doomed?

Answer 7

• December 1974 assault

Question 8

Watergate

Answer 8

• In January 1973, it was revealed that the president’s employees had broken into and bugged the offices of the Democratic Party in the Watergate Hotel
• Court hearings revealed that Nixon was directly involved
• In August 1974, Nixon was forced to resign
• Nixon succeeded by Gerald Ford

Question 9

When was it revealed that president’s employees had bugged Democrats’ offices?

Answer 9

• January 1973

Question 10

When did Nixon resign? Who was he succeeded by?

Answer 10

• August 1974

- Succeeded by Gerald Ford

Question 11

How did the US react to North Vietnam’s continuing success?

Answer 11

• Nothing

- US Congress rejected requests for US aid for the South

Question 12

When did Thieu resign as president and flee the country?

Answer 12

• 21 April 1975

Question 13

When did South Vietnam surrender to the North?

Answer 13

• 30 April 1975