Q1) What factors played a role in shaping Nixon's decision to get the US out of Vietnam?Q2) What factors do you believe prevented the US and South Vietnamese forces from achieving decisive victory against the Vietcong and the Viet Minh?

Q1) Several factors influenced Nixon's decision to withdraw the US from Vietnam. Firstly, the American public was increasingly against the war, with protests becoming more frequent and violent. Secondly, the cost of the war was escalating, putting a strain on the US economy. Thirdly, the war was not going as planned, with the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces proving to be formidable opponents. Lastly, Nixon believed in the policy of Vietnamization, which involved training and equipping the South Vietnamese forces to take over the fight.

Q2) There were several factors that prevented the US and South Vietnamese forces from achieving a decisive victory. Firstly, the Viet Cong and Viet Minh had a deep understanding of the local terrain and had the support of the local population, which they used to their advantage. Secondly, the US and South Vietnamese forces were fighting a guerrilla war, which is notoriously difficult to win. Thirdly, the North Vietnamese received significant support from the Soviet Union and China, which helped them sustain their war effort. Lastly, there were significant political constraints on the US and South Vietnamese forces, including restrictions on where they could attack and the pressure to minimize civilian casualties.