-
Eisenhower is inaugurated as President
34th U.S. President! Gave a great increase in U.S. military aid to the French in Vietnam to prevent a Communist victory. -
Period: to
Seige at Dien Bien Phu occurs
French troops soon run out of fresh water and medical supplies. American combat troops are sent to the rescue. -
French surrenders
French soldiers surrender at Dien Bien Phu. The French survivors march up to 60 days to prison camps 500 hundred miles away. Nearly half die during the march or in captivity. -
Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam's Independence
Japanese sign the surrender agreement in Tokyo Bay formally ending World War II in the Pacific. -
Gulf of Tonkin is attacked
South Vietnamese commandos attack two small Vietnamese islandsin the Gulf of Tonkin. -
U.S. Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
This gives President Johnson the power to take whatever actions he wants to defend southeast Asia. -
Vietcong withdraw
After two days of fierce battles against Song Be. -
President Nixon takes office
He wants to negotiate a settlement with Vietnam. -
President Nixon resigns
This leaves South Vietnam without its strongest advocate. -
End of War
North Vietnamese tanks role into Saigon. -
Eisenhower cites a 'Domino Theory'
A Communist victory in Vietnam would result in all surrounding countries following. -
The last American combat soldiers leave South Vietnam
For the U.S., the war is officially over.
