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
- 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
U.S 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
Effects
- 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.
"Tonight I do not tell you that the war in Vietnam is the war to end wars. But I do say this: I have initiated a plan which will end this war in a way that will bring us closer to that great goal to which Woodrow Wilson and every American President in our history has been dedicated the goal of a just and lasting peace."
- Nixon
- Nixon
Subjunctive Question
What would have happened if someone else had become president at this time?
Summary
Because anti war demonstrations were very popular Nixon told the people he was looking for peace and became president. He started Vietnamization which actually did take out soldiers but instead bombed vietnam. This caused America to lose a lot of money and killed a lot of people.