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Geneva Accords
According to the Geneva Accords, a North Vietnam and a South Vietnam were established. Also, according to the Accords, the two Vietnams were suppose to be unified within two years. (History.com, 2020) -
Leaders of the North and South
With the support of the United States, Ngo Dinh Diem becomes the head of South Vietnam. The Communist North is lead by Ho Chi Minh. (History.com, 2020) -
South Vietnamese Leader
Ngo Dinh Diem becomes the South Vietnamese leader; he is backed by the United States (History.com, 2020) -
Ho Chi Minh Trail
"North Vietnam forces begin to build a supply route through Laos and Cambodia to South Vietnam in an effort to support guerrilla attacks against Diem's government in the south. The route becomes known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail" (History.com, 2020). -
U.S. Soldiers Killed
Around Saigon (South Vietnam), North Vietnamese guerrillas conduct raids, and United States soldiers are killed (History.com, 2020) -
Le Duan
Le Duan becomes head of North Vietnam's communist party, replacing Ho Chi Minh (History.com, 2020). -
The National Liberation Front
In South Vietnam, there is a political insurgency, named the National Liberation Front, against the South's government; the NLF is supported by the North Vietnamese (History.com, 2020). -
Viet Cong
There is a military component to the National Liberation Front, and the United States called them the Viet Cong (History.com, 2020). -
President Kennedy Sends Soldiers
Hundreds of Green Berets are sent by Kennedy to South Vietnam, and Kennedy "authorizes secret operations against the Viet Cong" (History.com, 2020). -
Diem Escapes
Diem is not popular with much of the South's people, and his presidential palace is bombed but he survives (History.com, 2020) -
Agent Orange
The United States sprays Agent Orange in areas of South Vietnam in order to get rid of forests, making it more difficult for guerrillas to hide (History.com, 2020). -
Ap Bac
South of Saigon at Ap Bac, South Vietnamese forces, who have had training from U.S. advisers, and who greatly outnumber some Viet Cong forces, still get defeated by the Viet Cong Unit (History.com, 2020). -
Buddhist Crisis
Buddhist protestors in the South are shot at by Diem's government forces, and eight people are killed, some of the killed are children (History.com, 2020) -
Immolations
In protest of the South's government, Buddhists set fire to themselves in public spaces (History.com, 2020) -
Coup
There is a military coup against the unpopular Diem, who is killed; the United States backs the coup (History.com, 2020). In the next two years, the South has twelve different governments (History.com, 2020) -
Kennedy Assassinated
President Kennedy is assassinated in Texas; Johnson becomes President -
USS Maddox
In the Gulf of Tonkin, an American ship, the USS Maddox, is supposedly attacked by patrol boats from North Vietnam; Johnson orders air strikes on patrol boat bases in the North (History.com, 2020) -
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The United States Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, "which authorizes the president to 'take all necessary measures, including the use of armed force' against any aggressor in the conflict" (History.com, 2020).
