Vietnamization+-+12-13

VIETNAMIZATION - Colin Shin

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 * A brief description of the event (no more than one paragraph)
 * Introduced by President Nixon in 1969, Vietnamization was a plan to gradually withdrawing or ending American involvement in the Vietnam War. This policy focused on encouraging the South Vietnamese to take responsibility and a bigger role in the War. Vietnam War was continuously being unfavorable and unpopular by the American public and society, and Nixon's strategy was sought to facilitate an eventual withdrawal. In numbers, the 540,000 American troops were reduced to 25,000, which was less than 5% of the prior. Many advisers and the brain trust were worried that this policy would lead to the North Vietnam winning - since South would lose lots of power by losing American troops. Therefore, there was the Madman Theory, where in Paris, Nixon and North Vietnam met up for a peace agreement. However, North defeated the South in the end.
 * A list of "major players" involved (nations involved, heads of states, other people of prominence)
 * America, Vietnam
 * President Nixon
 * Dates
 * Nixon Term: 1969-1973
 * Vietnam War : 1954-75
 * The outcome of this event
 * North Vietnam with communist ideals in the end defeated South Vietnam, and the USA's withdrawal would be a key factor to this aftermath. Nixon's policy did reduce casualties and further costs of the war, but went against all of the previous presidents (Kennedy, Eisenhower, and Johnson)' policies towards reducing communism around the world.
 * How this event influenced the Cold War as a whole
 * Vietnam War was just one of the wars during the cold war period, and this war alone had more bombings than all of WWII. Vietnamization during this period showed that communism still pops up randomly in random parts of the world, and that it is very difficult to outweigh the costs during a war with so much money and military needed. USA started to really consider their limits of containing communism.

Works Cited

"President Nixon's Speech on "Vietnamization," November 3, 1969 - The Wars for Viet Nam - Vassar College." //The Wars for Vietnam//. Vassar College, n.d. Web. 8 Apr. 2013. .

"Vietnamization." //Spartacus Educational//. © Spartacus Educational Publishers Ltd, n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2013. .

"Vietnamization — History.com Articles, Video, Pictures and Facts." //History.com — History Made Every Day — American & World History//. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 8 Apr. 2013. .