Why the USA withdrew from Vietnam Cambridge IGCSE History revision
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In plain words
The most powerful country on Earth was not beaten on the battlefield. It was worn down at home, by flag-covered coffins on the evening news and by students on the streets, until its leaders decided that the war could no longer be fought.
9 things to know
- The USA could not win the war on the ground. The Viet Cong kept fighting whatever their losses, and the South Vietnamese governments it was supporting remained weak and corrupt.
- The cost was huge, in lives and in money. About 58 000 Americans were killed.
- Many soldiers were young conscripts. Morale fell, and discipline with it.
- The media: this was the first war shown on television. Americans watched the fighting, the casualties and the suffering of civilians in their own homes.
- Public opinion turned against the war. The Tet Offensive of 1968 and the news of the My Lai massacre shocked the country. There were huge protests, especially by students.
- In 1970 four students were shot dead by soldiers during a protest at Kent State University.
- President Nixon, elected in 1968, followed a policy called Vietnamisation: American troops were withdrawn step by step, and the South Vietnamese army was trained and equipped to fight on by itself.
- After long talks, a peace agreement was signed in Paris in January 1973, and the last American troops left.
- In 1975 North Vietnam conquered the South. Vietnam was united under communist rule. Containment had failed there.
Worked example
"Public opinion was the main reason why the USA withdrew from Vietnam." How far do you agree? Plan a 10-mark answer.
- Agree: television pictures, My Lai, the draft and the protests made the war politically impossible to continue. Johnson did not stand again, and Nixon was elected promising to end it.
- Other reasons: the war could not be won, because of guerrilla tactics, the weakness of the South and the determination of the North. The cost was enormous.
- Judgement: the military failure came first. If the USA had been winning, the public would have accepted the war. Opinion turned because the war was being lost.
Tips and tricks
- Link the reasons. Military failure led to bad news, which led to protest, which led to withdrawal. An answer that links scores above one that lists.
- Vietnamisation means handing the fighting to the South Vietnamese army while American troops leave. Give the meaning whenever you use the word.
It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.
Why the USA withdrew from Vietnam: 5 questions and answers
These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.
About how many Americans were killed in the Vietnam War?
Vietnamese deaths were far higher.
Which president introduced Vietnamisation?
He was elected in 1968.
What happened at Kent State University in 1970?
It deepened opposition to the war.
When was the peace agreement signed in Paris?
American troops then left.
What happened in Vietnam in 1975, and what did it show?Stretch
The whole country became communist.
Quiz
5 questions
Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.
Worksheet
3 questions, 20 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.
Why the USA withdrew from Vietnam
Cambridge IGCSE History 0470 · 20 marks · papermunch.org
Name ______________________________ Date ______________
What was Vietnamisation?[4]
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It was President Nixon's policy for ending American involvement. American troops were withdrawn gradually. The South Vietnamese army was trained and equipped to do the fighting. The USA continued to supply money and air support.
Why did American public opinion turn against the war?[6]
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It was the first war shown on television, so people saw the violence and the casualties for themselves. Young men were being conscripted and killed in growing numbers. The Tet Offensive suggested that the war was not being won, and the My Lai massacre shocked people. The war was also very expensive.
"The USA failed in Vietnam because of the tactics of the Viet Cong." How far do you agree?[10]
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Viet Cong tactics: guerrilla warfare, tunnels, peasant support and supplies along the Ho Chi Minh Trail meant that they could not be defeated. Other reasons: American tactics killed civilians and lost support; the South Vietnamese government was weak; opinion in the USA turned against the war; the North had help from China and the USSR. Judgement: Viet Cong tactics made the war unwinnable, but American mistakes and opposition at home decided the withdrawal.
Answers: Why the USA withdrew from Vietnam
- 1. It was President Nixon's policy for ending American involvement. American troops were withdrawn gradually. The South Vietnamese army was trained and equipped to do the fighting. The USA continued to supply money and air support.
- 2. It was the first war shown on television, so people saw the violence and the casualties for themselves. Young men were being conscripted and killed in growing numbers. The Tet Offensive suggested that the war was not being won, and the My Lai massacre shocked people. The war was also very expensive.
- 3. Viet Cong tactics: guerrilla warfare, tunnels, peasant support and supplies along the Ho Chi Minh Trail meant that they could not be defeated. Other reasons: American tactics killed civilians and lost support; the South Vietnamese government was weak; opinion in the USA turned against the war; the North had help from China and the USSR. Judgement: Viet Cong tactics made the war unwinnable, but American mistakes and opposition at home decided the withdrawal.