Vietnamization
Vietnamization, 1969
- 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
- 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 Communis