Vietnamization
- Anti-war demonstrations became very popular in the U.S.
- President Nixon was elected in 1968 on a peace platform (Tricky Dicky)
- Nixon wanted to find a way out honourably
- Developed Vietnamization with help of Henry Kissinger and Henry Cabot-Lodge
- The plan had a two track formula
- 1.) Make the south well trained enough militarily that they could withstand the north on their own
- 2.) Strengthen the south’s government to attract a broader base
US Withdrawals
- American’s began to make their first withdrawals in Aug. 1969
- The air war increased
- B-52s dropped more bombs on North Vietnam than during all of WWII
- 1971 almost entirely an air war
- 1972 200,000 troops
- Jan. 1973 a cease fire is signed (Americans got their POWs back after 20 years of fighting)
- Aug. 1973 all U.S. forces out of Vietnam
- Spring 1975 all of south Vietnam falls to the north and becomes Communist
Effects of Vietnam war
- Costs the U.S. 150 billion dollars
- 57, 939 men killed
- Loss of a country to Communism
- Limitations brought in on the President’s powers to wage war (Vietnam never declared a war)
- Made the U.S. look bad worldwide
- Conscription was ended in U.S.
Summary
In the United States Anti-war demonstrations had become popularized around the same time President Nixon was elected on a peace platform in 1969. He wanted to find a way out of office honorably following a scandal involving the Republicans. With the assistance of Henry Kissinger and Henry Cabot-Lodge Vietnamization was created. The plan was intended to Strengthen the South's government to attract the broader base, and to help the South become well trained enough in a militaristic sense, so they could withstand the North individually.