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The Americans didn't leave Vietnam until 1973 - by which time 58,000 US soldiers had lost their lives. How was peace finally achieved and at what cost?
The US gets out of Vietnam
Financial support, less fighting
- In 1968, the US president, Lyndon B. Johnson, ordered an end to American bombing of North Vietnam.
- There were increasing problems in the American army in Vietnam.
- There was increasing opposition to the war in America.
- Richard Nixon, who became US president in 1969, began Vietnamisation - pulling US troops out but giving financial support to the South Vietnamese army (the ARVN).
- On occasions, the US escalated [Escalated: Increased in extent or intensity. Often used when there is an increase in activity in a war. ] the war, launching attacks into Cambodia (1970) and Laos (1971) to pursue the Vietcong who were hiding there.
Talks break down
- In October 1972 Henry Kissinger worked out a peace agreement with the North Vietnamese.
- Nguyen Van Thieu, the president of South Vietnam, refused to sign (he thought the Americans were going to abandon him), so the North Vietnamese pulled out of the talks.
Paris Peace Agreement
- Richard Nixon mounted huge bombing raids on North Vietnam until the North Vietnamese were forced to sign.
- Nixon told Thieu he had to make peace whether he agreed with it or not, so Thieu was forced to sign too.
- January 1973: the Paris Peace Agreement was signed, and the Americans left Vietnam.
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