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After Japan surrendered in August, leader of the Viet Minh, Ho Chi Minh, announced the formation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. This was a declaration of independence from French colonial rule. The Democratic Republic of Vietnam controlled most of the country of Vietnam. -
The battle of Dien Bien Phu was between the Vietnamese and the French. Only 100 of 16,000 French troops made it through the siege at Dien Bien Phu. This victory for the Vietnamese ended the French colonial influence in Indochina. -
The 1954 Geneva Conference established the dividing line between North and South Vietnam. The 17th parallel was meant to create a temporary military separation line. This was buffered by a demilitarized zone between the communist north and the democratic south. -
National Liberation Front was a political organization and army in South Vietnam. It was established to overthrow the South Vietnamese government. They also wanted to reunify North and South Vietnam. -
North Vietnamese warships attacked US warships. This led to US involvement in the Vietnam war. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was passed by Congress on august 7th which allowed President Johnson to take any necessary measures to maintain international peace. -
Operation Rolling Thunder was a bombing campaign by the US Air Force and Navy. Its purpose was to force Ho Chi Minh to no longer try to take over South Vietnam. It lasted until October 1968. -
JFK sent the first US combat troops to Vietnam. 3,500 Marines arrived in Da Nang to protect the US airbase from Viet Cong attacks. -
A group of students in Des Moines planned a way to show their support to end the Vietnam war. They decided to wear black arm bands. School administrators made a policy that if students don't remove the arm bands they will be suspended. The students families sued the school for the violation of the students right to expression. -
The Tet Offensive was a series of North Vietnamese attacks on South Vietnam. They attacked more than 100 cities and outposts. Although they failed to capture any territory and ended efforts in early April 1968. -
My Lai massacre was an attack on the Vietnamese village, My Lai. American soldiers killed over 500 unarmed South Vietnamese citizens in this village. It happened because Charlie Company was ordered to enter the village for a search and destroy mission. -
At the 1968 Democratic National Convention there were protests against the Vietnam War. Yippie leader Rubin, a folk singer Phil Ochs, among other activists held their own presidential nominating convention. Their candidate was named Pigasus and was an actual pig. The activists were arrested by ten policemen. -
The election was between republican, Richard Nixon, Democrat, Hubert Humphrey, and Independent party nominee, George Wallace. Former vice president Richard Nixon won. -
Woodstock was a 3 day music festival. Many people who went opposed the Vietnam War. Woodstock gave these people a chance to express themselves through music and spread peace and love. -
Students at Kent State University were protesting the bombing of Cambodia. Members of the Ohio National Guard fired into the crowed and they killed 4 students. They also wounded 9 other students. -
Students at Jackson State College were protesting against the US invasion of Cambodia. Shortly after midnight, police opened fire on students. 11 students were injured and 2 died. -
The Pentagon Papers were a report of the origin and development of the Vietnam War. They showed that military and government officials had gotten the US involved in a war they could not win. They were leaked into the news which many Americans saw and realized that the government had deceived them. -
Watergate was a major political scandal in the US involving President Richard Nixon. It was a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and cover-up done by Nixon and others who worked for the White House. -
The Paris Peace Accords were the official agreement to end the Vietnam war. They were a peace treaty signed to restore peace in Vietnam. -
This was a court case which held that the President can't hide evidence in a criminal prosecution because of executive privilege. It required him to release White House tapes. -
Saigon was the capital of South Vietnam but it fell to the North Vietnamese Army. This marked the end of the Vietnam War. In the days leading up to it, the US evacuated thousands of Americans and South Vietnamese.