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French-Vietnam War begins
The Viet Minh launched a rebellion against the French authority governing the colonies of French Indochina. Because France still wanted to be in control, France had a counter attack. They drove the Vietminh forces into hiding in the countryside. -
Geneva Conference
This conference took place in Geneva, Switzerland between the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and China. It was organized to decide what they should do about the fighting in Vietnam. Ultimately, they decided to place the 17th parallel as the border between North and South Vietnam. The West would be in control of South Vietnam, while the East (ie. the Soviet Union and China) would be in charge of North Korea. -
French-Vietnam War Ends
In the wake of the French defeat at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, the French decided to make peace with Vietnam. The war officially ended after the Geneva Conference. -
French Leave Vietnam
After negotiations with Vietnam, the French leave. The French High Command for Indochina is then dissolved; however, the country was still deciding whether or not it wanted to be communist or democratic. -
Vietcong Organized
The political organization and army that fought for North Vietnam was created. It branched off the original rebellion against France (Viet Minh). The group contain both guerrilla and army unit forces. They fought and won the war in Vietnam. -
The Revolution Begins
The armed revolution begins as Ho Chi Minh declares a People's War to unite all of Vietnam under his leadership. His Politburo, or communist policy maker, now orders a changeover to a huge military struggle. -
MACV is formed for the war
MACV, the U.S. Military Assistance Command for Vietnam, is formed. This group played a vital role in the war. It replaces MAAG-Vietnam, the Military Assistance Advisory Group which had been established in 1950. -
Tonkin Resolutions
The Senate and House passed a resolution that authorized the president to “take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.” This happened as a result of an attack on US ships in the Gulf of Tonkin. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
In the four parts of this plan, it essentially meant war despite the fact that war was never declared on Vietnam. This operation put Americans into the Vietnam fight. American soldiers were now fighting alongside the South Vietnamese troops against the Vietcong. -
First Teach-in
The first teach-in, or a long term discussion on an issue, took place at the University of Michigan organized by the Students for a Democratic Society. About 2,500 students participated in the protest against the Vietnam War. -
March on the Pentagon
100,000 people, including hippies, teachers, women, African American nationalists, war veterans and liberals, began the March on the Pentagon. This march was organized to protest the Vietnam War. The rally took place in front of the Lincoln Memorial. By the end of the day, 683 people had been arrested -
Tet Offensive
During Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, North Korea launched a surprise, guerilla attack on all American air bases in South Vietnam. The bloodiest battle of the Tet Offense took place in the third largest city in South Korea, Hue. Communists took much of the city and massacred the city’s political and religious leaders. Nearly 3,000 bodies were found with thousands more missing. -
The US Senate Foreign Relations started Vietnam Hearings
As a direct result of the Tet Offensive, the US Senate Foreign Relations began to discuss the American policy with Vietnam. Eventually congressional reaction helped convince Johnson, who was frustrated with his inability to solve the problems in Vietnam, to announce that he would neither seek nor accept the nomination of his party for president. -
Vietnamization Begins
Nixon announced the withdrawal of 25,000 soldiers. This process involved the gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops while South Vietnam assumed more of the fighting. This was a revolutionary step toward ending the war. -
Ho Chi Minh Dies
Minh died of heart failure at his home in Hanoi at the age of 79. Today, Ho Chi Minh still symbolises a Communist power, but to some Vietnamese people, mainly those who live abroad, he is a negative image. His face can be seen all over Vietnam as a past leader. -
Kent State
Because many people saw the Cambodian invasion as making the war bigger, people began to protest. At Kent State, Ohio National Guard soldiers open fired on demonstrators without orders. More than a week later, Mississippi police killed two African American students during a protest at Jackson State College. -
26th Amendement Passed
18 year olds began to demand the right to vote around the time of the Vietnam War, where 18 year olds could be forced to serve in the military. -
US Withdrawl of Troops
After days of the United States bombing North Vietnam, the sides both agreed to end to war and restore peace in Vietnam. This ended the United States’s direct involvement with Vietnam. -
War Powers Resolution
The act was created to give less power to the executive branch on war. It required the president to inform Congress of any commitment of troops abroad within 48 hours and to withdraw them in 60 to 90 days unless Congress explicitly approved the troop commitment. This helped balance out the powers in war. -
Vietnam War Ends
North Vietnam launched a full-scale invasion on South Korea after the US withdrew troops. Without help from the United States, South Korea had to surrender under Communist rule. They renamed the South Korean capital of Saigon to Ho Chi Minh City.
