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France Surrenders
After attempting to take back its colonies, France surrenders and Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia are granted independence at the Geneva Conference. -
Period: to
Vietnam War
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Vietnam Splits
Ho Chi Minh becomes leader of now communist North Vietnam and Ngo Dinh Diem is “elected” as president of the Republic South Vietnam. -
Ngo Dinh Diem Assassination
Diem and his brother are brutally assassinated by dissident generals of the South Vietnamese army. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
A U.S. Naval vessel fired upon and damaged on August 2nd. Two days later, the warship was attacked again by torpedoes; however, there ended up being no proof of a second attack on a U.S. vessel by North Korea. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Lyndon B. Johnson announces that North Vietnam attacked a U.S. Naval vessel on two separate nights, leaving out that the first time the ship was attacked, it was on its way to an attack of its own, and the second attack never actually occurred. Johnson then gets the approval to send many American troops into Southeast Asia and conduct military operations, but not declare war. -
Rolling Thunder
Operation Rolling Thunder was a series of U.S. air strikes meant to slow the flow of soldiers and supplies from North Vietnam. The operation proved not very successful. It is, though, the “largest display of fire power in the history of warfare”. -
Operation Starlite
Operation Starlite is the first major ground U.S. operation, during which they heavily bombed the Viet Cong. This operation became a victory and boosted troops’ morale about the war. -
Tet Offensive
North Vietnam and the Viet Cong launch a surprise attack on Tet, meaning the New Year, a time of truce. American troops and South Vietnam reacted quickly and effectively. The Tet Offensive, however, ended up showing Americans that this war’s end was not in sight like it had been said. -
My Lai Massacre
The Charlie Company of the U.S. Army enters My Lai in search of Viet Cong. No Viet Cong is found, but Americans began to kill every civilian in sight, resulting in 300 Vietnamese civilians dead. In the report it was stated that 69 Viet Cong members were found and killed and fails to mention any civilian deaths or casualties. -
Westmoreland Replaced
U.S. commander Westmoreland is replaced by General Creighton Abrams. This happening is important because Westmoreland was initially held in very high regard but by the government and by the U.S. public. After the Tet Offensive, Westmoreland’s claims of the war coming to end were visibly false. His replacement shows his decline in popularity and the want for someone else to lead forces in Vietnam. -
Operation Rolling Thunder ENds
After three years, President Johnson halts bombing the North Vietnam near the end of his presidency. -
Paris Peace Talks
The United States, North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and Viet Cong all gather to attempt to come to peace agreements. -
First Troop Withdrawal
After 5 years of heavy involvement in Vietnam, 800 soldiers are sent home. This is the first act of withdrawal of troops from Vietnam. -
March on Washington
On November 15th 1969, 250,000 people gather in Washington to protest the war. This is the largest protest in U.S. history. -
Vietnam War Ends
Saigon, South Vietnam is taken by the Viet Cong. The entirety of Vietnam comes under communist rule and the Vietnam War ends.
