The Paris Peace Accords

• the Paris Peace Accords agreed to:

  • all countries to accept Vietnam as a single country - reunification was to be by negotiations and agreement, with no outside interference
  • a ceasefire
  • no more US aid to ARVN
  • US troops, equipment to be withdrawn and military bases to be dismantled within 60 days
  • USA could not interfere with Vietnamese politics or militarily
  • USA to give aid for reconstruction in North and South Vietnam
• • the Peace Accords gave the USA a way to leave Vietnam but the North and South Vietnam saw “the peace” as a brief ceasefire while the USA withdrew
• significance:

  USA:

  • Congress cut military funding sent to South Vietnam which left the ARVN badly supplied

  South Vietnam:

  • economy of South Vietnam collapsed due to loss of US aid
  • VC became strong in villages
  • Thieu did not want to negotiate with North Vietnam

  North Vietnam:

  • North Vietnam became impatient with refusal to negotiate by Thieu
  • This led to the fall of Saigon
• Fall of Saigon:

  • South Vietnam refused to negotiate with communists
  • this led to North Vietnamese invading and capturing Saigon in April 1975
  • Congress provided no help despite assuring help if South Vietnam was invaded
• The Fall of Saigon marked the end of the Vietnam War.