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The French lose control in Vietnam
After their forces were attacked by the Vietnamese, the French surrender, giving up their power, and leave Vietnam. -
SEATO Is Formed
The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization is formed to contain the spread of communism. -
The Vietcong Strike
Communist rebels in South Vietnam, called Vietcong, start killing off government officials and destroy roads and bridges, trying to cut off supplies. -
The US Sends Troops To The South
President Kennedy sends US troops to South Vietnam to advise more effective ways to fight communist forces. -
Diem Is Overthrown
Diem, the leader of South Vietnam, is taken out of power and assassinated with the help of the US, and anit-Diem generals. -
President Kennedy Is Assassinated
President Kennedy is shot and killed, and Vice President Lyndon Johnson becomes president. -
North Vietnam Attacks US Ship
The North Vietnamese fire on the USS Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin. The Maddox returns fire, and President Johnson orders an airstrike on North Vietnam. -
The Gulf Of Tonkin Resolution Is Passed
The Gulf Of Tonkin Resolution is approved by Congress, allowing the president to "take all necessary measures to repel any armed attacks." -
The US Changes Its Role
President Johnson alters the US role in Vietnam in response to an attack in Pleiku and orders "Rolling Thunder." -
Attacks On The North Begin
The US hammers North Vietnam with airstrikes and starts using Napalm, jellied gasoline used to cause explosions. -
The War Dissolves Into A Stalemate
By 1967, neither side could advance further and the fighting becomes a stalemate. -
America Divided
Tensions between America citizens begin to rise as people began to speak out against the war. They began to feel that the war was pointless and didn't have any American interest. Those who supported the war argued against this, saying that it was needed to stop the spread of communism. -
Collage Students Protest Against The Draft And The War
Anit-war collage students burn their draft cards to protest the unfairness of the draft and the Vietnam war -
The North Attacks Khe Sanh
The North Vietnamese launched an attack on Khe Sanh, the first part of a plan called the "Tet Offensive." -
The North Continues The Onslaught
North Vietnam launches the second part of the Tet Offensive, which is an attack on the US and ARVN positions. The US and South Vietnam were able to repel the attacks, but they now knew that the North was not giving up. -
The US Begins To Pull Back
President Johnson announces limiting the bombing of North Vietnam and the seeking of a negotiation to settle the war. He also shocks the nation when he announced that he would not be running for reelection. -
Richard Nixon Takes Office
Richard Nixon is elected as president and starts withdrawing troops from Vietnam, and gives the burden of war to the South Vietnamese. -
The War Goes To Cambodia
President Nixon addresses the American people and tells them of his decision to bring the war into Cambodia after ordering a secret bombing to cut off supplies to North Vietnam. -
The Paris Peace Accords
The United States, along with North and South Vietnam sign the Paris Peace Accords, agreeing to cease fire on American troops as they leave, ending the war for the US. -
The North Takes Over The South
After the United States pulled out of the war, the South was left weakened and vulnerable. They were no match for the North, and it wasn't long before the North completely took over, uniting Vietnam under a communist rule. Ending the Vietnam War.