Vietnamization, 1969
- President Richard Nixon was elected in 1968 on a peace platform (Tricky Dicky)
- Nixon wanted to find a way out honorably
- 1) Make the south well trained enough militarily that they could withstand the north on their own
- 2) Strength the south government to attract a broader base
U.S Withdrawals
- B-52s dropped more bombs on North Vietnam than during all of WWII
- 1971 almost entirely an air war
- Jan. 1973 a case fire is signed (Americans got their POWs back after 20 years of fighting)
- August 1973 all USA forced out of Vietnam
- Spring 1975 all of south Vietnam fall to te north and becomes communist
Summary
When Nixon was elected he brought in the idea of "Vietnamization". He wanted to leave Vietnam but before he could do that he wanted to make sure their military was well trained enough and that their government was strong so that they could withhold an invasion or take over from the north.