Vietnamization : The Game

1. Vietnamization: The Game created by Brooke Safferman 

2. Vietnamization was a policy of the Richard Nixon administration as a result of: • A) The first bombings of Hanoi and Haiphong • B) MLK’s assassination by James Earl Ray • C) the Viet Cong’sTet Offensive • D)the Battle of La Drang Valley

3. What was the goal of Vietnamization? • A)To have South Vietnamese troops enter the DMZ • B)To cripple South Vietnamese efforts in North Vietnam because the U.S. was pro-North Vietnam • C)To train US combat troops to steadily reduce the amount of South Vietnamese combat troops • D)To train South Vietnamese troops to steadily reduce the amount of US combat troops

4. Why did Nixon want to reduce the amount of US troops? • A) The war was not important in the eyes of Nixon’s Administration, so they wanted to evacuate as quickly as possible to move on to more important matters • B)The war required a great deal of money and lives • C) The policy of containment overruled the policy of Vietnamization • D)Nixon was a blatant racist and did not like the Vietnamese people, in general, so he wanted to stay away from Vietnam if he could help it

5. The name “Vietnamization” originated during a meeting held by the National Security Council: • A)by Marshmallow Laird • B) by Melvin Laird • C)by Marcus Kleinfelder • D)by Matthew Laird

6. Vietnamization fit into the policy of détente, where the US: • A) no longer used containment as its primary strategy • B) came to a mutual decision to use containment as its primary strategy • C) forced the North Vietnam out of their homeland and into the central highlands, where the South Vietnamese would be able to hide in the bay and then attack during broad daylight • D) ate a creamy pasta dish. (please laugh... PLEASE.)

7. The two essential components of Vietnamization were: • A) 1.Strengthen Vietnam in equipment, leadership, & combat skills 2. Extend the pacification program in Vietnam • B) 1. Strengthen the US in equipment & combat skills 2. Diminish leadership in South Vietnam • C) 1. Strengthen North Vietnam in combat skills 2. Diminish combat skills in South Vietnam

8. In June 1969, Nixon called for: • A) the removal of 540,000 troops • B) the removal of 54,000 troops • C)the removal of 250,000 troops • D) the removal of 25,000 troops

9. To avoid an embarrassing defeat, Nixon’s advisors wanted to: • A) Write letters to the North Vietnamese soldiers explaining just how fervent their desire to win this war was • B)Negotiate a peace agreement in meetings that were occuring at the time in France • C) have a party in France and eat détente, mmmm. • D) Realized that war would be the only way to lead to victory, and decided not to negotiate a peace treaty

10. Analysis • Affected the course of the war because there was a greater emphasis on training the South Vietnamese to fight against the North Vietnamese, therefore reducing American influence in Vietnam to save both US lives and US money. Ultimately, Nixon hoped to remove all American troops from Vietnam.

11. More analysis! • Affected American policy because there was a change in fundamental policy; no longer did the US regard containment as its primary policy, as Vietnamization was a more economical, beneficial-to-the-US plan.

12. More analysis (continued) • Therefore, the policy of Vietnamizationwas a turning point in the war, because although it ultimately failed, there was a greater unity to the desire of the American people to get the US troops out of Vietnam and allow the South Vietnam to fight their own battles.