-
French suffer a decisive defeat at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.
This battle was a significant turning point for Indochina, it was also the beginning to the Vietnam War. This battle was so that Vietnamese could have their independence from the French Colonies. Battle of Dien Bien Phu. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dien_Bien_Phu -
Withdrawl of the French from Vietnam
This is significant because the French had a peaceful withdrawl because The Geneva Accords created a cease-fire. This also created the temporary boundary between North and South Vietnam at the 17th Parallel. Amazing Cultures: VIETNAM WAR. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://blackrainbow-blackrainbow.blogspot.com/2011/06/vietnam-war.html -
South Vietnam declared itself the Republic of Vietnam.
South Vietnam not only declared themselves the Republic of Vietnam, but they also elected Ngo Dinh Diem as president. Ngo Dinh Diem. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://www.biography.com/people/ngo-dinh-diem-39809 -
South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem is executed during a coup.
He was assasinated along with his brother by Nguyen Van Nhung, the aid of the leader of the Army of Republic of Vietnam during a coup sanctioned by the US. This led to the collapse of his regime as well as the First Republic of Vietnam. Arrest and assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrest_and_assassination_of_Ngo_Dinh_Diem -
North Vietnamese attack two US destroyers sitting in International Waters.
This was also known as the Gulf of Tonkin Incident and it lead to the US Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. This resolution allowed President Johnson to take any measures he believed were necessary to retaliate and to promote the maintenance of international peace and security in southeast Asia. Lane Tonkin Gulf. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://www.slideshare.net/jluteran/lane-tonkin-gulf -
A sustained US aerial bombing campaign of North Vietnam began.
This airstrike would later be called Operation Rolling Thunder and was significant because it marked the first sustained American assault on North Vietnamese territory and thus represented a major expansion of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Moments in U.S. Diplomatic History. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://adst.org/2015/07/rolling-thunder-behind-the-fog-of-war/ -
First US combat troops arrive in Vietnam.
This marks the involvment that the US had in this war. These soldiers are significant because they were the first to be involved in the affairs of the Vietnam directly. This also was the first troops ready to fight and use force. Society of the 1st Infantry Division. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from https://www.1stid.org/historyindex.php -
North Vietnamese join forces with the Viet Cong.
This is important because this launched teh Tet Offensive, attacking approximately 100 South Vietnamese cities and towns. A. Viet Cong Cadre. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://barbaragluck.com/destination-Viet Cong/pages/A. Viet Cong Cadre.htm -
US soldiers kill hundreds of Vietnamese civilans in the town of Mai Lai.
The Massacre of Mai Lai killed hundreds of unarmed men, women, children, and even infants. Women were gang-raped by American soldiers and then their bodies were mutalated. This would later cause many issues in the US. My Lai Massacre. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lai_Massacre -
US troops in Vietnam reached 540,000
This many soldiers being in Vietnam was significant because we were putting so many Americans in the corps in Vietnam. All these people had to leave their home to come here. This could cause many people to miss their loved ones and want them home. Battles 1964-69. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from https://tgsthethingstheycarried.wikispaces.com/Battles 1964-69 -
Nixon orders US troop withdrawls from Vietnam.
The very first U.S. troop withdrawal occurs as 800 men from the 9th Infantry Division are sent home. The phased troop withdrawal will occur in 14 stages from July 1969 through November 1972. This slowly began the end of the US involvement. Reporter, D. M. (2013). Found after 40 years: Man who went missing with his son in the Vietnamese jungle when his mother and two of his children were killed in a bomb at their home. Retrieved April 17, 2016 -
American public learns of the Mai Lai Massacre.
This caused many Americans to question the conduct of American soldiers in Vietnam after learning about how disorganized the event was. This was good for Anti-War protestors because this was now seen that the Troops would kill and lie about the event. The incident also changed the way the military issued operational orders during military engagements and exposed significant flaws to the public.
7. Reactions at Home - My Lai Massacre. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016 -
Nixon announces US Troops will attack enemy locations in Cambodia.
This news sparked nationwide protests, especially on college campus. This gave the Anti-War Effort a new rallying point. The protests resulted in deaths at Kent State University and later at Jackson State in Mississippi.
Outrage and rebellion. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from http://old.seattletimes.com/special/centennial/october/outrage.html -
Last US Troops are withdrawn from Vietnam.
This is significant because it lead to the North Vietnamese to attack the South Vietnamese. This was also one of the last movements to take us out of this war over Communism taking over Vietnam. This also was the last group being able to go home to their families, alive. Press, A. (2013). Last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam 40 years ago today; those who were there remember experience. Retrieved April 17, 2016 -
Vietnam is unified as a Communist country.
After the attack from North Vietnam on South Vietnam, the South surrendered to the North causing them to become the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This is significant because this means that the US involvement did nothing against the spread of communism and may lost their lives. Communist Party of Vietnam. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_Vietnam
