5.3.21
Peace Negotiations
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Peace Negotiations, 1970
Nixon had promised to end the war in his election campaign of 1968, and was determined to be true to his word.

US demands
- In April 1965, President Johnson explained Operation Rolling Thunder.
- Johnson said the USA was ready to negotiate anytime.
- But Johnson insisted that South Vietnam’s independence must be guaranteed.

North Vietnam demands
- Two days later, North Vietnam said any peace talks must include a united Vietnam.
- They expected a communist government to be elected.
- This made a peace settlement seem impossible.

Stalemate
- After the Tet Offensive in 1968 both sides agreed to talks in Paris.
- But they simply stated their previous standpoints.

Wider negotiations
- Nixon had promised to end the war in his election campaign of 1968.
- So Nixon began to hold talks with China and the USSR in order to try and end the Cold War.
- North Vietnam feared that they wouldn’t be able to keep fighting without their allies.
- So North Vietnam agreed to talks with the USA in 1970.

Tactics
- South Vietnam was not informed about these peace talks.
- The USA even thought about abandoning South Vietnam’s President Thieu to achieve peace.
- Meanwhile, Nixon kept pressuring the North by continuing the fight.
- At the same time, he pushed Vietnamisation, handing more control to South Vietnamese forces.

Pressure
- However, the USA was also under pressure to end the war quickly as opposition was increasing at home, and Congress had cut funding.
Peace Negotiations, 1972–73
The USA was also under pressure to end the war quickly as opposition was increasing at home, and Congress had cut funding.

The Easter Offensive
- In 1972, the North launched the Easter Offensive.
- This was a shock to the USA as they didn’t think the North were strong enough to launch another major attack after Tet.
- Although the USA defeated the attack, it showed that the war could drag on for years.

Negotiations breakdown
- On 8th October 1972, the USA and North Vietnam produced an agreement.
- But Thieu refused to sign because he had been left out of the talks in Paris.
- The North accused the USA of using Thieu’s refusal as an excuse to back out of the agreement, and the talks broke off.

Further talks
- Nixon promised Thieu deliveries of weapons, supplies and aid if he would attend the talks.
- And Nixon also encouraged China and the USSR to persuade the North to return to the talks.
- Talks resumed on the 8th January 1973.
1Was the Treaty of Versailles Fair?
1.1What were the Motives and Aims at Versailles?
1.2Did the Victors Get Everything They Wanted?
1.3What was the Impact on Germany up to 1923?
1.4Could the Treaty be Justified at the Time?
2Was the League of Nations a Success?
2.1How did Weaknesses in the League Lead to Failure?
2.2The League’s Success in Peacekeeping
2.3How Important was the League's Humanitarian Work?
2.4How did the Depression Impact the League?
3How did Hitler's Foreign Policy Impact the War?
3.1What were the Long-Term Consequences of Versailles
3.2What were the Consequences of the League's Failure
3.3Was the Policy of Appeasement Justified?
3.4How Important was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
3.5Why did Britain & France Declare War on Germany?
3.5.1The Guarantee for Poland and the War3.5.2Hitler’s Foreign Policy & Rearmament3.5.3Hitler's Plan3.5.4The Saar3.5.5Remilitarisation of the Rhineland3.5.6The Rome-Berlin Axis3.5.7Germany & Italy in the Spanish War3.5.8The Anti-Comintern Pact3.5.9Anschluss with Austria3.5.10The Munich Agreement3.5.11The Crisis over Czechoslovakia
4Who was to Blame for the Cold War?
4.1Why did the US-Soviet Alliance Break Down?
4.2How did the USSR Gain Control of Eastern Europe?
4.3How did the US React to Soviet Expansionism?
4.4What were the Consequences of the Berlin Blockade?
4.5Who was More to Blame for Starting the Cold War?
5Did the US Contain the Spread of Communism?
5.1The US and Korea, 1950-53
5.2The US and Cuba, 1959-62
5.3The US and Vietnam, 1955-75
5.3.1French Rule in Vietnam5.3.2President Eisenhower5.3.3President Kennedy5.3.4The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 19645.3.5US Tactics5.3.6Vietcong Tactics5.3.7The Vietcong5.3.8The My Lai Massacre, 19685.3.9Vietnamisation5.3.10The Tet Offensive, 19685.3.11Attacks on Cambodia & Laos5.3.12The Bombing of North Vietnam5.3.13The Failure of Vietnamisation5.3.14The Growth of Opposition5.3.15The Draft System5.3.16The Kent State University Shootings, 19705.3.17Political Opposition5.3.18Reasons for Support 15.3.19Reasons for Support 25.3.20Political Support5.3.21Peace Negotiations5.3.22The Paris Peace Accords, 19735.3.23Economic & Human Costs 15.3.24Economic & Human Costs 25.3.25The Strengths of North Vietnam 15.3.26The Strengths of North Vietnam 25.3.27The Weaknesses of the US 15.3.28The Weaknesses of the US 25.3.29Opposition in the US5.3.30Reasons Why USA Lost
6How was USSR's Control Over Eastern Europe?
6.1Opposition to Control in Hungary & Czechoslovakia
6.2Similarities Between Hungary & Czechoslovakia
6.3Why was the Berlin Wall Built?
6.4Solidarity in Poland & Soviet Influence
Jump to other topics
1Was the Treaty of Versailles Fair?
1.1What were the Motives and Aims at Versailles?
1.2Did the Victors Get Everything They Wanted?
1.3What was the Impact on Germany up to 1923?
1.4Could the Treaty be Justified at the Time?
2Was the League of Nations a Success?
2.1How did Weaknesses in the League Lead to Failure?
2.2The League’s Success in Peacekeeping
2.3How Important was the League's Humanitarian Work?
2.4How did the Depression Impact the League?
3How did Hitler's Foreign Policy Impact the War?
3.1What were the Long-Term Consequences of Versailles
3.2What were the Consequences of the League's Failure
3.3Was the Policy of Appeasement Justified?
3.4How Important was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?
3.5Why did Britain & France Declare War on Germany?
3.5.1The Guarantee for Poland and the War3.5.2Hitler’s Foreign Policy & Rearmament3.5.3Hitler's Plan3.5.4The Saar3.5.5Remilitarisation of the Rhineland3.5.6The Rome-Berlin Axis3.5.7Germany & Italy in the Spanish War3.5.8The Anti-Comintern Pact3.5.9Anschluss with Austria3.5.10The Munich Agreement3.5.11The Crisis over Czechoslovakia
4Who was to Blame for the Cold War?
4.1Why did the US-Soviet Alliance Break Down?
4.2How did the USSR Gain Control of Eastern Europe?
4.3How did the US React to Soviet Expansionism?
4.4What were the Consequences of the Berlin Blockade?
4.5Who was More to Blame for Starting the Cold War?
5Did the US Contain the Spread of Communism?
5.1The US and Korea, 1950-53
5.2The US and Cuba, 1959-62
5.3The US and Vietnam, 1955-75
5.3.1French Rule in Vietnam5.3.2President Eisenhower5.3.3President Kennedy5.3.4The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 19645.3.5US Tactics5.3.6Vietcong Tactics5.3.7The Vietcong5.3.8The My Lai Massacre, 19685.3.9Vietnamisation5.3.10The Tet Offensive, 19685.3.11Attacks on Cambodia & Laos5.3.12The Bombing of North Vietnam5.3.13The Failure of Vietnamisation5.3.14The Growth of Opposition5.3.15The Draft System5.3.16The Kent State University Shootings, 19705.3.17Political Opposition5.3.18Reasons for Support 15.3.19Reasons for Support 25.3.20Political Support5.3.21Peace Negotiations5.3.22The Paris Peace Accords, 19735.3.23Economic & Human Costs 15.3.24Economic & Human Costs 25.3.25The Strengths of North Vietnam 15.3.26The Strengths of North Vietnam 25.3.27The Weaknesses of the US 15.3.28The Weaknesses of the US 25.3.29Opposition in the US5.3.30Reasons Why USA Lost
6How was USSR's Control Over Eastern Europe?
6.1Opposition to Control in Hungary & Czechoslovakia
6.2Similarities Between Hungary & Czechoslovakia
6.3Why was the Berlin Wall Built?
6.4Solidarity in Poland & Soviet Influence
Practice questions on Peace Negotiations
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1What did North Vietnam demand be part of any peace talks?Multiple choice
- 2When did North Vietnam agree to talks with the USA? Multiple choice
- 3Why was Nixon under pressure to end the Vietnam War quickly?Fill in the list
- 4Which Offensive did North Vietnam launch in 1972?Multiple choice
- 5
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