-
Ho Chi Minh is born.
Ho Chi Minh was the president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. He declared Vietnam independent and defeated the French in Dien Bien Phu. He wanted to spread communism to South Vietnam. He was important to the Vietnam War because he led the Ho Chi Minh Trials and continue trying to spread communism. -
Vietnam declares independence from France, but neither France nor the United States recognize Vietnam as a separate nation.
Ho Chi Minh responded by promising to fight until the North and South were free from French control. This is important because it would lead to Dien Bien Phu where Vietnam defeats the French and the Geneva accords where Vietnam is split into North and South. This increased tensions and would later cause the war between the North and South. -
The Geneva Accords cause Vietnam to be split into North and South.
France, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, the United States, China, Laos, and Cambodia met in Geneva, Switzerland. Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel. The Geneva accords ended fighting between France and Vietnam. It also would lead to greater American involvement in Vietnam. -
President Eisenhower declares "Domino Theory".
The domino theory was the idea that if Vietnam fell to communism then other Southeast Asian countries would follow. This was important because it explained the United State's reason for following a containment policy and being involved in the war. -
The Viet Minh and Ho Chi Minh defeat the French at Dien Bien Phu.
As a result, the U.S refused to sign the Geneva Accords. President Eisenhower also vetoed a proposal to get involved in another land war in Asia. The French surrendered and fighting stopped. -
Ngo Dinh Diem cancels elections in Vietnam.
He cancelled them due to the popularity of Ho Chi Minh. They were voting on who the president would be for a unified Vietnam. This was important because it was an attempt at reunifying Vietnam after the Geneva Accords had separated it into North and South Vietnam. -
The National Liberation Front is formed.
They were also known as Vietcong. They were a communist group in South Vietnam that were directed by the north to assassinate Southern Vietnamese government officials. They caused tension that would lead to the Vietnam War. -
A South Vietnamese monk sets himself on fire.
Thich Quang Duc was a Buddhist monk and he set himself on fire in downtown Saigon. He did this to protest against the Diem government's discrimination against Buddhists and because troops killed nine Buddhists that were protesting government repression. It is important because it fueled the revolution and made America join the war. -
The United States withdraws support of Ngo Dinh Diem, leader of South Vietnam.
After this, Diem was assassinated. The Eisenhower administration promised military aid and training to Diem if he would create a stable government in South Vietnam. Diem failed to do this. This is important because is made South Vietnam more unstable and corrupt. -
President Kennedy is assassinated, leading to the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson.
If JFK had survived, U.S. forces probably would have been withdrawn from South Vietnam. His assassination led to Lyndon B. Johnson becoming president and he escalated the nation's role in Vietnam. His assassination is important because it led to a new president who increased assistance to South Vietnam. -
President Johnson claims a U.S. ship had been fired upon by the North Vietnamese.
The ships name was the U.S.S Maddox. As a result, the Tonkin Gulf Resolution was passed. It was important because it allowed U.S troops to retaliate. It also increased tensions. -
The first combat troops arrive in Vietnam.
The United States first sent military advisors in 1950 to assist the French. Harry Truman sent money for economic aid. This is important because the U.S was strongly engaging in the war and and increasing their role.
