The Reunification Of Vietnam Flashcards
1
Q
What was Vietnamization?
A
- In 1968, Johnson decided to open peace talks following the Tet Offensive. However, he then stood down as President - sick of the pressure of the War. Nixon won the next election with a promise to end the war.
- Nixon began the policy of Vietnamization. This meant taking American troops out of Vietnam and leaving the South Vietnamese troops of the ARVN to do the fighting. The USA would still help by giving arms and money and advice to the ARVN.
- At the same time, Nixon continued peace talks as well as continuing to bomb North Vietnam heavily to try to persuade them to give up.
2
Q
What happened in 1970-71?
A
- Nixon ordered the invasion of Cambodia in 1970 and then Laos in 1971. The aim was to disrupt the Ho Chi Minh Trail and to destroy Vietcong bases in these countries.
- The ARVN failed in their attempts and this seemed to prove that they could not cope without US troops.
- The invasions also led to more protests against the war back in the USA. It seemed as if Nixon was escalating the war, not trying to bring about peace.
- 4 Americans students were shot dead by police in a demonstration at Kent State University. This made even more people angry about US involvement in Vietnam.
3
Q
How did the war end?
A
- Eventually, in October 1962, a peace agreement was reached.
- The South Vietnamese President, Thieu, was furious because he believed the peace agreement would leave his country at the mercy of North Vietnam.
- A few months later in 1973, the last American troops left Vietnam, leaving the ARVN to fight the communists on their own.
- The USA had promised to keep providing aid to South Vietnam, but started to decrease the amount they sent. Thieu was even more angry!
- North Vietnam then invaded the South and by July 1976, Vietnam was one country again - ruled by the communists.
