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Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The French suffer from a major defeat -
The Geneva Accords
The Geneva Accords creates a cease-fire for the peaceful withdrawal of the French from Vietnam and provides a temporary boundary between North and South Vietnam at the 17th parallel. -
Ngo Dinh Diem
South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam, with newly elected Ngo Dinh Diem as president. -
The National Liberation Front
The NFL also known as the Viet Cong is established in South Vietnam -
Ngo Dinh Diem President executed
South Vietnamese Presedent executed during a coup. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident.
From the 2nd to the 4th North Vietnamese attack two U.S. destroyers sitting in international waters (the Gulf of Tonkin Incident). -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
In response to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, the U.S. Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. -
Opperation Rolling Thunder
A sustained U.S. aerial bombing campaign of North Vietnam begins (Operation Rolling Thunder). -
US troops Arrive
The first US combat troops arrive in Vietnam -
Tet Offensive Launched
The North Vietnamese join forces with the Viet Cong to launch the Tet Offensive, attacking approximately one hundred South Vietnamese cities and towns. -
US soldiers kill hundreds
U.S. soldiers kill hundreds of Vietnamese civilians in the town of Mai Lai. -
General for US troops replaced
General William Westmoreland, who had been in charge of the U.S. troops in Vietnam, is replaced by General Creighton Abrams. -
US troops increase to 540,000
U.S. troops in Vietnam reaches 540,000 -
Nixon orders troops to come home
President Nixon orders the first of many U.S. troops withdrawl from Vietnam. -
Ho Chi Minh dies
Communist revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh dies at age 79. -
Mai Lai Massacre discovered by Americans
The American public learns of the Mai Lai massacre. -
US troops directed by Nixon to attack Cambodia
President Nixon announces that U.S. troops will attack enemy locations in Cambodia. This news sparks nationwide protests, especially on college campuses. -
South Vietnam surrenders
South Vietnam surrenders to the communists. -
Vietnam becomes Communist country
Vietnam is unified as a communist country, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
