5.3.9
Vietnamisation
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Vietnamisation
President Nixon won the election in 1969 as he promised to end the war in Vietnam, but ensure it wouldn’t fall to the communists. He tried several different methods:

Official peace talks
- Official peace talks:
- Nixon sent representatives to negotiate with North and South Vietnam, as well as the VC.
- However, this would be a very long and difficult process.

Secret peace talks
- Secret peace talks:
- Nixon sent Henry Kissinger to negotiate secretly with the leader of North Vietnam, Le Duc Tho.

Troop withdrawal
- Troop withdrawal:
- Nixon decreased the number of troops in Vietnam by 25,000 and began to withdraw them from July 1969 onwards.

ARVN training
- ARVN training:
- Nixon ordered General Abrams to focus on training the ARVN to carry on the war without American troops.

Secret bombings
- Secret bombings:
- In March 1969 Nixon ordered bombs to be dropped on the Ho Chi Minh trail in Cambodia.
The Nixon Doctrine
On 25th July 1969 Nixon made a speech about the role of the USA in the future of South East Asia. This became known as Vietnamisation.

Vietnamisation
- On 25th July 1969 Nixon made a speech about the role of the USA in the future of South East Asia.
- This became known as Vietnamisation.

Nixon's speech
- The USA promised to support its allies against nuclear threats by training their troops, but without sending US soldiers.
- This was like in 1964, when the US gave advice and money but kept its soldiers out.

'Withdraw with honour’
- Vietnamisation would allow the US to ‘withdraw with honour’ in the eyes of the Nixon administration.
- And South Vietnam would remain an independent, non-communist country.

Divisions
- The US public welcomed Vietnamisation.
- But the army leadership felt that the US was withdrawing before the ARVN were ready.
- And that after the Tet Offensive, more troops would give them a chance to fully defeat the VC.
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 Vietnamisation
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