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Indochinese Communist Party was Founded
Ho Chi Minh returns from Europe and helped found the Indochinese Communist Party. -
Japanese Seize Vietnam
The Japanese take over Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh organizes the Vietminh to fight off japan, Around this time the US joins in. -
France requests aid in fighting Vietminh
France came back to take over Vietnam sending the Vietminh into hiding, the Vietminh started taking control and France escalated it to the United States for help, putting Americans in a difficult decision. -
Japan surrenders
Japan surrendered to the allied powers and Ho Chi Minh quickly declares independence for Vietnam. -
The battle of Dien Bien Phu
The US decided to side with france opposing to communist Vietnam, despite US aid, France was getting ambushed by guerilla warfare tactics. Eventually leading to france's defeat. -
Geneva Accords
Negotiations to end the war were held in Geneva switzerland, where the Accords would split Vietnam along the 17th parallel. -
US gets more involved
The elections in 1956 had failed, and the communists in north Vietnam worked to reunify the nation, naming themselves the Vietcong. At this time the US sent in military advisers to teach the south vietnamese army. -
Kennedy takes office
When kennedy took office in 1961, he supported the anti communist efforts in vietnam and sent in more troops. -
Diem overthrown
Diem made himself extremely unpopular, by going against buddhism. Buddhists protested in the streets and 9 were killed by police, shocking Americans. In August, Henry Cabot Lodge learned that the government officials were overthrowing Diem. -
Vietnamese blow up American boats
President Johnson announces that north vietnamese had launched torpedoes at two US destroyers, giving more power to the president.