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Ho Chi Minh is born
Ho Chi Minh was an important rebel leader and would live on to do many things in the Vietnam War with his people. He was the communist leader in north and was not supported by the United States. -
Vietnam declares independence from France, but neither France nor the United States recognize Vietnam as a separate nation
North Vietnam attacks the French -
The Viet Minh and Ho Chi Minh defeat the French at Dien Bien Phu
President Dwight D. Eisenhower vetoed a proposal to get involved in another land war in Asia so soon after the Korean War. -
The Geneva Accords cause Vietnam to be split into North and South
Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel (the Demilitarized
Zone). -
Ngo Dinh Diem cancels elections in Vietnam
Diem cancels the election of 1956 due to Ho Chi Minh’s
popularity. This election was between Ho Chi Minh and Ngo Dinh Diem to become the Vietnam leader. -
President Eisenhower declares "Domino Theory"
The idea Eisenhower had behind this theory was that if Vietnam was to fall to communism, it would spread throughout Asia and to the northern hemisphere -
The National Liberation Front is formed
Also known as the Vietcong. Occupied the south, however they were directed by the North. -
A South Vietnamese monk sets himself on fire
This man was an elderly Buddhist. He did this to speak out against government repression, in effect the majority of people in S. Vietnam turned against the Diem regime. -
The United States withdraws support of Ngo Dinh Diem, leader of South Vietnam
The Diem regime was overthrown and Ngo Dinh Diem and
his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu were killed. -
President Kennedy is assassinated, leading to the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson.
Kennedy was president for only 3 years before being assassinated. Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn into presidency and led the US deeper into the influence of Vietnam. Some things suggest Kennedy might have brought us out of the war had he lived. -
President Johnson claims a U.S ship had been fired upon by the North Vietnamese.
The U.S.S. Maddox is attacked by North Vietnamese PT boats. This leads to the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, where Johnson is able to send U.S combat troops to take over the war. -
The first combat troops arrive in Vietnam
This is much later however to when the US first start sending military advisers, in 1950.
