The Vietnam War

It begins for America

Jan 1, 1950

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War
American Advisors reach French Indochina. They believed they were needed to keep the communists underground or at bay so no other countries could be swept up into the communist movement. Major fear during this time was communists after/during the Cold War.

KennedyElected

Nov 8, 1960

http://csrmedia.education.asu.edu/Lectures/SS3/HistoryCore/Basic9/index.htm
Slide 13
Symbolized hope for the American people. Will later be the person to through America into the Vietnam War although it is to be an unpopular war

Kennedy Helps

Jan 1, 1961

http://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/timeline/
Kennedy backs South Vietnam. Giving weapons and Advisors. This is important because they have now chosen a side as well as chosen their enemies. America is getting involved in a "Civil War" but to keep communism out.

JFK Shot

Nov 22, 1963

http://csrmedia.education.asu.edu/Lectures/SS3/HistoryCore/Basic9/index.htm
Slide 22
Killed American spirirt for change. Leads to LBJ being president and trying to end the war as fast as possible.

The Gulf of Tonkin

Aug 2, 1964

<ahref='http://csrmedia.education.asu.edu/Lectures/SS3/HistoryCore/Basic9/index.htm' >
Slide 24
U.S. Naval craft attacks North Vietnamese craft. In the resolution, Americans place more soldiers into French Indochina. Were not here by chance, but to aide in attack. Gives an excuse to join the war.

Operation "Rolling Thunder"

Mar 2, 1965

http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/vietnam/timeline.htm
Beginning of sustained bombing on Northern Vietnam that will last for three years. To put pressure on North Vietnam leaders. Was the expansions of Americas involvement in the war.

Tet Offensive

Jan 30, 1968

<ahref='http://http://csrmedia.education.asu.edu/Lectures/SS3/HistoryCore/Basic9/index.htm' >
Slide 28
North Vietnames used New year cease fire to capture South Vietnam urban areas. Was a blow to America showing that the war wil last longer than everyone had thought. Mad this war an unpopular one.

Massacre of the My Lai Village

Mar 16, 1968

http://www.datesandevents.org/events-timelines/06-vietnam-war-timeline.htm
The news coverage of the massacre of the My Lai village by US troops shocks America leading to numerous Antiwar Demonstrations. Greater opposition of war.

LBJ drops out of re-election

Mar 31, 1968

http://csrmedia.education.asu.edu/Lectures/SS3/HistoryCore/Basic9/index.htm
slide 27
Because of how unpopular he and the war were becoming due to the Tet Offensive, he drops out. Leaving his party to select a different candidate to run. The Democrat that was running against him was very high in the eyes of the people.

MLK Jr. Assasination

Apr 4, 1968

http://csrmedia.education.asu.edu/Lectures/SS3/HistoryCore/Basic9/index.htm
Slide 27
MLK Jr. is shot. Leaves the American people with not much belief in change of the government. Gives rise to new Democrat.

Paris Peace Talks

May 10, 1968

http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/vietnam/timeline.htm
North Vietnam and Americans are to begin discussing peace treaty in Paris. Trying to end the war before it gets too far out of hand and costly.

Cambodia Involved in Vietnam War

Apr 28, 1970

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-approves-cambodian-incursion
President Nixon extends the war to Cambodia, first by unrelentless bombing, and then the invasion of trrops. This causes mor ebacklash against the war that is supposed to be ending soon. None of the American people wanted to fight in this war anymore.

Drafting Ends

Jan 27, 1973

http://thevietnamwar.info/vietnam-war-draft/
Due to popular criticism against the draft for being unfair to poor and middle class men, the draft ended as the Vietnam war was nearing a close.