Vietnam - Ending the war

Question 1

What did the Nixon doctrine 1969 state?

Answer 1

The USA would honour any treaty commitments it had made in South East Asia.
It would help any ally against nuclear threat with aid but not with troops.

Question 2

What was Vietnamisation?

Answer 2

The USA would withdraw troops from Vietnam slowly by training up the ARVN to take over the fighting.

Question 3

Why did Vietnamisation allow America to withdraw from Vietnam?

Answer 3

It meant that America could withdraw from Vietnam without making it look like they lost (withdraw with honour).

Question 4

What did the USA want from the withdrawal?

Answer 4

They wanted SV to remain independent.

Question 5

Give evidence that Vietnamisation was a success.

Answer 5

US troops began to withdraw between 1969 and 1973.
Fewer US deaths.

Question 6

Give evidence that Vietnamisation was a failure.

Answer 6

1. Many ARVN troops deserted - 150,000 by 1971.
2. Training of ARVN was ineffective as it was hurried and there were troop shortages to train the ARVN.
3. ARVN failed in an invasion of Laos 1971 - leaving weapons and equipment behind.

Question 7

What countries did the USA invade under Nixon?

Answer 7

Cambodia (1970) and Laos (1971)

Question 8

Why did Nixon invade Cambodia and Laos?

Answer 8

To destroy Vietcong bases in Vietnam’s neighbouring countries and the Ho Chi Minh trail.

Question 9

What were the consequences of Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia?

Answer 9

1. North Vietnam withdrew from peace talks.
2. Protests erupted in America.
3. Congress was outraged and called for less funding of the war.

Question 10

What was the effect on the Ho Chi Minh trail after the bombings?

Answer 10

It was partly destroyed but could be rebuilt.

Question 11

What was Operation Linebacker?

Answer 11

US bombed NV.
Bombed Hanoi and Haiphong to stop ships from China and USSR bringing in supplies.

Question 12

When was Operation Linebacker?

Answer 12

1972

Question 13

What was Operation Linebacker a response to?

Answer 13

The Easter Offensive.

Question 14

What were the consequences of Operation Linebacker?

Answer 14

1. Disrupted supplies from China and NV industry.
2. Led China and the USSR to urge NV to agree to peace with the USA.

Question 15

What happened to American relations with China and the USSR under Nixon?

Answer 15

Relations began to improve (Nixon visited both countries in 1972). It was a period of detente.

Question 16

What ideology was China under?

Answer 16

Communism.

Question 17

What impact did the improved relations with China and the USSR under Nixon have on ending the war with Vietnam?

Answer 17

It made negotiations with communist Vietnam easier.

Question 18

Who was the president of SV?

Answer 18

Thieu. (1967-75)

Question 19

Why had the Paris peace talks failed in 1969?

Answer 19

The USA wanted an independent SV, whereas the NV wanted to reunite Vietnam under communism.

Question 20

When were secret peace talks held?

Answer 20

1969

Question 21

When were further peace talks held?

Answer 21

1972

Question 22

Why did Thieu refuse to agree to peace terms?

Answer 22

He was furious that the talks had been secret and he had not been involved.

Question 23

How did America finally get a new peace settlement in 1973?

Answer 23

Further bombing of NV.
Further talks with the USSR.
Made concessions to Thieu.

Question 24

What is a concession?

Answer 24

Something done in order to reach an agreement.

Question 25

When was the peace agreement signed, ending the war in Vietnam?

Answer 25

January 1973

Question 26

What did the Paris Peace Accord state?

Answer 26

1. Immediate ceasefire.
2. Withdrawal of US forces.
3. All countries to accept Vietnam as a single country (reunification).

Question 27

What happened after the peace accords (1973)?

Answer 27

SV government and economy began to collapse.
NV invaded SV.
Saigon fell to communism in April 1975.

Question 28

How many civilians died in the Vietnam war?

Answer 28

2 million.

Question 29

How many communist fighters died in the Vietnam war?

Answer 29

1.1 million.

Question 30

How many US soldiers died in the Vietnam war?

Answer 30

58,000

Question 31

How many SV people were displaced (forced to leave their homes)?

Answer 31

5 million

Question 32

What did Nixon represent?

Answer 32

Peace - negotiated peace talks with Vietnam from the start of his presidency.

Question 33

When did Nixon start withdrawing troops?

Answer 33

July 1969 onwards.

Question 34

4 things Nixon did.

Answer 34

1. Secret bombing
2. Secret peace talks
3. Training of ARVN
4. US troop withdrawal.

Question 35

Who did Nixon send to negotiate secret peace talks with Le duc tho (NV president)?

Answer 35

Henry Kissinger

Question 36

When did Nixon order bombs to be dropped on Ho Chi Minh trail in Cambodia?

Answer 36

March 1969

Question 37

3 agreements at Paris.

Answer 37

Accept the reunification of Vietnam and a new government to be elected.

Begin a ceasefire.

Keep the armies of both South Vietnamese ‘governments’.

Question 38

Why did Thieu fail to bring peace to Vietnam?

Answer 38

He failed to make the government more democratic.
So popularity of VC began to increase.

Question 39

When did the North launch a attack on Thieu?

Answer 39

December 1974

Question 40

Evidence that there was not complete withdrawal.

Answer 40

1. 150 US marines guarded US embassy
2. 10,000 military personnel remained as civilian advisors.

Question 41

How many days was the US given to withdraw in Paris peace accords?

Answer 41

60

Question 42

Two political strengths of North Vietnam.

Answer 42

1. VC - well established in SV
2. Government did not allow any opposition to the war.

Question 43

When had the tunnel system developed in Vietnam?

Answer 43

War with the French

Question 44

When did Congress start properly restricting funding?

Answer 44

1971