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Ho Chi Minh is born.
Ho Chi Minh would become an important rebel leader. He led the Viet Minh independence movement breaking away from the French Empire called French-Indochina consisting of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. He then established the Communist-ruled Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945, and eventually defeated the French at the battle of Dien Bien Phu. -
Vietnam declares independence from France, but neither France nor the United States recognize Vietnam as a separate nation.
When Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, French forces seized southern Vietnam. The French then bombarded the northern Vietnamese city of Haiphong, killing thousands. In response, the Viet Minh (North) launched an attack against the French in Hanoi on December 19, 1945. -
The Geneva Accords cause Vietnam to be split into North and South.
The nation was divided at the 17th parallel with the Geneva Accords. -
President Eisenhower declares, Domino Theory.
The idea behind the Eisenhower's Domino Theory was that if Vietnam fell to communism, other Southeast Asia countries would follow. This added to the US goal of containment. -
The Viet Minh and Ho Chi Minh defeat the French at Dien Bien Phu.
The US at the time was providing aid to the French believing in Eisenhower's domino theory. This was the thought that if Vietnam fell to communism, other Southeast Asia countries would follow. This caused the US to become directly involved in the Vietnam War. The US was scared of the spread of Communism from North Vietnam. -
The United States withdraws support of Ngo Din Diem, leader of South Vietnam.
South Vietnam's president, Ngo Dinh Diem, decided not to take part in the 1956 election after the withdrawal of US support. The US only promised aid to Diem if he maintained a stable government. Diem failed mainly by restricting religion. (Buddhists) Diem's officials then were attacked by the Vietcong creating the Hamlet program and Ho Chi Minh Trail. -
Ngo Dinh Diem cancels elections in Vietnam.
Ngo Dinh Diem improved his power as the President of South Vietnam. He declined to have a national election to unify the country as called for in the Geneva Accords. He was also worried with the rise of Ho Chi Minh and was not confident he would win the election. -
The National Liberation Front is formed.
The National Liberation Front was also known as the Vietcong. They occupied South Vietnam and killed North Vietnamese government officials. -
A South Vietnamese monk sets himself on fire.
The man who set himself on fire was Buddhist. He did this because Ngo Dinh Diem was persecuting Buddhists and other religions throughout North Vietnam. The monk set himself on fire to try protest these killings. The monk figured he would be killed anyways and chose to be a martyr. -
President Kennedy is assassinated, leading to the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson.
If President Kennedy was in office, the situation in Vietnam would have been totally different. Before his death, Kennedy made it known that he wanted to withdraw from Vietnam. When Lyndon B. Johnson took over he escalated our role in the war. He asked after the attack on the USS Maddox, to launch bombs on North Vietnam. This was approved with the Tunkin Gulf Resolution. If Kennedy would have lived we would have gotten out of the war. -
President Johnson claims a U.S. ship had been fire upon by the North Vietnamese.
The ship that was attacked was the USS Maddox. The response was Lyndon B. Johnson asking if he could retaliate by dropping bombs on North Vietnam. This was approved through the Tunkin Gulf Resolution which allowed him to take any measure necessary. The US citizens felt that the Constitution was violated. This was because they granted Lyndon B. Johnson's military power through the executive branch without a formal declaration of war from the legislative. -
The first combat troops arrive in Vietnam.
The first U.S. combat troops arrive in Vietnam as 3500 Marines land at China Beach to defend the American air base at Da Nang. They joined the 23,000 American military advisers already in Vietnam.
