Vietnam USA 1954-75 Flashcards
What was the Nixon doctorine?
25th july 1969
- Usa would follow through with any existing support it had on promised allies and help them on nuclear attacks
- Only provide financial support and training not soldiers
Some key features of vietnamisation?
- Wanted troops to withdraw from war but not showing they lost
- ARVN was about to take over reducing US military deaths
- Send money not soldiers
- aim to make sure it was a non-communist country. Us would notlose face of outcomes
What was vietnamisation?
Putting ideas behind Nixon doctorine in practice
How did ARVN suffer?
The US training was not enough and there was corruption
What happened when US troops withdrew?
Americans wanted them to come home. Many soldiers killed their officers who were leading them into risky situations. Drug use also rose
What happened on attacks on cambodia 1970?
- nixon sent troops to cambodia to stop north vietnamese from helping communists there. Congress was outraged and cancelled 1964 gulf of Tonkin resolution. Also reduced money for war and demanded faster troops reduction
What happened on attacks Laos 1971?
USA gave air support to south vietnamese invasion on Laos. There was bloody fighting there between north and south. South did not fight well increasing doubts about holding back communism
Things about bombing of North Vietnam 1972?
- April 1972 USA bombed north
- all areas were targeted and mines were dropped into Haiphong harbour to stop supplies from China and USSR by sea.
- Radio and communications were destroyed
- Bombings lead to USSR and China for north vietname to call peace deal
How did US public react to vietnam war?
- Cold war made them paranoid
- Eisenhower said falling domino to express his concern saying it was inevitable to lose
- Did not want a losing face if they lost the war
-Wanted to support war
What was the silent majority?
3 november 1969
A survey said 77% of americans backed him this meant:
- Congress passed resolutions approving Nixons approach
- Nixon showed north vietnam he had support persuading for settlement
What were some of the reasons for growth of opposition?
- Student movement
- TV and media coverage of war
- Vietnam and draft system
- Impact of media images and home footage
What was the student movement?
- Young people rejected the attitudes towards war and there was a new counter culture
- Students were opposed to the draft
- Student numbers increases to 8.5 million in 1970 from 6 million 5 years before
What was the Tv coverage like in vietname war?
- First war where reporters were allowed to travel to warzone and report back. This bought the vietnam war to TV.
- Created a lot of protests
How did people at home feel about vietnam war?
- people at home beleived tv reporters were more honest than politicians and inspired them to get involved on what was happening
Explain vietnam and draft system?
- Forced men 18-25 to serve in military
- 1966 first men were drafted and were “delinquants”
- 1969 lottery system men between 1944 and 1950 were called up
