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Dien Bien Phu
Viet Minh overrun French fortress at Dien Bien Phu -
South Vietnam
South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam, with newly elected Ngo Dinh Diem as President. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident
North Vietnamese attack two U.S. destroyers sitting in international waters -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
U.S. Congress passes a Gulf of Tonkin resolution -
Tet Offensive
The North Vietnamese join forces with join forces with the Viet Cong to launch the Tet Offensive, attacking approximately 100 South Vietnamese cities and towns. The Tet Offensive was the first "televised war", Americans could not believe what they were seeing. -
The Mai Lai Massacre
U.S. soldiers kill hundreds of Vietnamese civilians in the town of Mai Lai. -
U.S. troops in Vietnam reaches 540,000
U.S. troops in VIetnam reaches 540,000 -
The american public learns of the Mai Lai Massacre
The American public learns of the Mai Lai Massacre -
Nixon announces attack in Cambodia
President Nixon announces that U.S. troops will attack enemy locations in Cambodia. -
Pentagon Papers get published
Portions of the pentagon papers are published in the New York Times. -
The Easter Offensive
The North Vietnamese cross the demilitarized zone at the 17th parallel to attack South Vietnam which became known as the Easter Offensive. -
The last U.S. troops are withdrawn from Vietnam
The last U.S. troops are withdrawn from Vietnam. -
North Vietnam launches a massive assault on South Vietnam.
North Vietnam launches a massive assault on South Vietnam. -
South Vietnam surrenders to the communists
South Vietnam surrenders to the communists -
Vietnam is unified as a communist country.
Vietnam is unified as a communist country, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.