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France Controls Indochina
French military forces established control over Indochina, a peninsula in Southeast Asia that includes the modern countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. The French ruled Vietnam with an iron fist and imposed high taxes. -
French surrender at Dien Bien Phu
Vietnam soldiers hammered at the French military at Dien Bien Phu. After suffering some 15,000 casualties, the French surrendered. -
Vietnam is divided
After being granted independence by France, Vietnam is divided at the seventeenth parallel into two countries. Ho Chi Minh's communist forces rule North Vietnam and anticommunist government in South Vietnam. -
U.S aids South Vietnam
The United States and seven other countries formed the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) to contain the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. -
North Vietnamese and U.S forces clash
North Vietnamese torpedo boats fired on the American destroyer USS Maddox. After, President Johnson was given military powers by Congress. -
Americanizing the War
Johnson ordered the start of Operation Rolling Thunder, the first sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam. -
American Assumptions and Strategies
U.S. airstrikes hammered North Vietnam and Vietcong strong points in South Vietnam. American pilots also dropped napalm and sprayed Agent Orange. -
Morale Declines on War
American Soldiers were not as certain that preserving the government in South Vietnam was as crucial to American interests. -
Antiwar Movement
Congress- and most of America - divided into two camps: hawks and doves. -
Tet Offensive is the Turning Point
President Johnson brought General Westmoreland home to address the nation about the war. He claimed that the Vietcong was declining in strength but they were actually planning an attack. -
A Costly War
There were more than half a million U.S. troops in Vietnam and the number of Americans dead had risen to more than 30,000. -
Chicago 1968
Dissension between hawks and doves in the party sparked angry outbursts . On the street violent clashes broke out between antiwar protesters and the Chicago Police. -
Johnson Steps Down
Two months after the Tet Offensive, Johnson addressed that America would limit its bombing of North Vietnam and seek negotiation. -
Selective Service System
In 1969, the Selective Service System adopted a lottery that was designed to eliminate deferment abuses and create a more diverse army of draftees. -
Nixon's "Silent" Supporters
Nixon called his supporters the "silent" majority. They consisted of of patriotic veterans from WWII and the Korean War. -
Paris Peace Accords
The U.S., North and South Vietnam and Vietcong made agreements to exchange POWS and the parties agreed to cease fire. -
Wars Powers Act
This act restricted the President's war-making powers by requiring him to consult with Congress within 48 hours of committing American forces to foreign conflict. -
Saigon Falls
Minor fighting escalated between North and South Vietnam. But, by the end of April, the communists had taken Saigon. -
Southeast Asia Suffers Turmoil
Upwards of 2 million Cambodians were executed or died in labor camps due to there ruler at the time, Khmer Rouge. -
Veterans Return Home
In Washington D.C. they built The Vietnam Veterans Memorial and it stands as a testa meant to all men and women who served in Vietnam.
