-
Creation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) was established on September 2, 1945, following the end of World War II and the defeat of Japan. Ho Chi Minh, a communist leader, proclaimed the independence of Vietnam from French colonial rule and became the President of the DRV. The new government was recognized by the Soviet Union, China, and other communist countries, while France and the United States opposed it. -
Creation of the 17th parallel between North and South Vietnam
The 17th parallel was a line of demarcation that was established in 1954 to divide Vietnam into two separate countries after the First Indochina War. The line ran across the center of the country. North Vietnam was controlled by the communist government of Ho Chi Minh, while South Vietnam was led by a US-backed government.. -
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu was a crucial confrontation in the First Indochina War between the French Union forces and the Viet Minh communist revolutionaries. It took place in Dien Bien Phu, a small town in northwest Vietnam, from March to May 1954. The Viet Minh won the battle, resulting in the withdrawal of French forces from Indochina and the eventual separation from Vietnam. -
Establishment of the National Liberation Front
The National Liberation Front (NLF) was a political and military organization that was established in Vietnam in 1960. The NLF was composed of various groups and individuals who opposed the US-backed government in South Vietnam and sought to reunite the country under a socialist government. The NLF played a significant role in the Vietnam War, and its guerrilla tactics and strategies contributed to the eventual defeat of US and South Vietnamese forces. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Operation Rolling Thunder was a sustained bombing campaign by the United States against North Vietnam from 1965 to 1968 during the Vietnam War. The objective of the operation was to demoralize the North Vietnamese, disrupt their infrastructure, and force them to the negotiating table. Despite the huge number of bombs dropped, the campaign failed to achieve its objectives, and the North Vietnamese continued to fight. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident and Resolution
The Gulf of Tonkin incident was a series of naval clashes that occurred in August 1964 between US and North Vietnamese forces in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of Vietnam. The incident led to the passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which authorized US military intervention in Vietnam. -
US combat troops arrive in Vietnam
In March 1965, the United States deployed combat troops to Vietnam in response to the increasing threat posed by the Viet Cong insurgency. The decision to send ground troops was made after several years of military assistance and advisory roles in the conflict. The arrival of US combat troops marked a significant escalation of the war and led to a prolonged and costly conflict that lasted over a decade -
1968 Democratic National Convention
The 1968 Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago, Illinois, and was marked by protests and violence both inside and outside the convention center. Anti-Vietnam War demonstrators clashed with police, leading to a brutal crackdown that was broadcast on national television and further polarized the country. -
Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive was a series of surprise attacks launched by the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong guerrillas against South Vietnam and US forces during the Lunar New Year holiday in January 1968. The offensive was aimed at breaking the stalemate in the war and overthrowing the South Vietnamese government. It had a significant impact on the course of the war by shaking the confidence of the American public in the government's handling of the conflict -
My Lai Massacre
The My Lai Massacre was a mass killing of unarmed Vietnamese civilians by US Army soldiers on March 16, 1968, during the Vietnam War. The soldiers, led by Lieutenant William Calley, entered the village of My Lai and massacred more than 500 unarmed men, women, and children. The massacre was covered up for over a year but eventually came to light through journalists' and activists' efforts. -
Jackson State College Protest
The Jackson State College protest was a demonstration against the Vietnam War and racism that took place at Jackson State College, a historically black college in Mississippi, on May 14, 1970. The protest turned violent when police officers arrived on the scene and opened fire on the students, killing two and injuring twelve others. -
1968 Presidential Election
In the 1968 presidential election, Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson chose not to seek reelection, and the Democratic Party was deeply divided over the Vietnam War. Republican candidate Richard Nixon ultimately won the election, defeating Democrat Hubert Humphrey and independent candidate George Wallace. -
Woodstock 1969
Woodstock was a music festival held in upstate New York in August 1969 that became a defining moment of the counterculture movement of the 1960s. The festival drew an estimated 400,000 people and featured performances by some of the biggest names in music, including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Who. Woodstock came to symbolize the values of peace, love, and unity that were central to the counterculture of the time. -
Tinker v. Des Moines
Tinker v. Des Moines was a landmark US Supreme Court case in 1969 that established the constitutional rights of students in public schools. The case involved three students who wore black armbands to school as a symbol of protest against the Vietnam War and were subsequently suspended. The Court ruled that students do not lose their constitutional right to freedom of speech when they enter a public school and that schools can only limit those rights if they disrupt the educational process. -
Kent State University Protest
The Kent State University protest was a student demonstration against the Vietnam War that took place on May 4, 1970. The protest turned violent when members of the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed students, killing four and injuring nine others. -
Pentagon papers
The Pentagon Papers were a classified report on US involvement in the Vietnam War that was leaked to the press in 1971. The report revealed that US officials had lied to the public about the extent of US involvement in Vietnam and the progress of the war. The release of the Pentagon Papers contributed to public disillusionment with the war and increased opposition to US involvement in Vietnam. -
Watergate
Watergate was a political scandal in the United States in the 1970s that ultimately led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. The scandal involved a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex in Washington D.C. by members of Nixon's reelection campaign, and subsequent efforts to cover up the crime by Nixon and his administration. -
1973 Paris Peace accords
The 1973 Paris Peace Accords were a set of agreements signed by the United States, North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and the Viet Cong that aimed to end the Vietnam War. Under the accords, the United States agreed to withdraw its troops from Vietnam, and North and South Vietnam were allowed to continue as separate countries. The accords failed to bring lasting peace to Vietnam and fighting between North and South Vietnam resumed in 1975, leading to the eventual victory of North Vietnam. -
United States vs. Nixon
-
Fall of Saigon
The Fall of Saigon was the capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, by North Vietnamese forces on April 30, 1975. The fall of Saigon marked the end of the Vietnam War and the reunification of North and South Vietnam under communist rule. The event was a major blow to the United States, which had spent years fighting in Vietnam and had invested significant resources in propping up the South Vietnamese government.