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Vietnam Splits
During the Geneva Conference in 1954, it was decided that Vietnam was to be divided by the 17th parallel. The Vietminh governed the north and a non-communist government was set up in the south (Hardcastle, 2005). The split confirmed conflicted interest and foreshadowed physical conflict. -
Viet Cong Forms
The Viet Cong, known also as the National Liberation Front, was established by North Vietnam on December 20, 1960. This organization was formed out of the detestation of Vietnam government and Diem. This group is to be the main issue for the United States and will have been the instituters of much destruction. -
Attack of MADDOX
On the afternoon of 2 August 1964, while steaming well offshore in international waters, MADDOX was attacked by three North Vietnamese motor torpedo boats (navysite). This may be the event that pulled U.S. into the war. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
On August 7, 1964, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, authorizing President Johnson to take any measures he believed were necessary to retaliate and to promote the maintenance of international peace and security in southeast Asia (history.state.gov). It is clear that the United States is about to take action against the North Vietnamese now. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Though President Lyndon B. Johnson, Operation Rolling thunder was implemented on March 2 in 1965, which would last until 1968. A series of plane-dropped bombings was intended to strike the Viet Cong. The plan was to destroy the North Vietnam economy and to force her to stop helping the guerrilla fighters in the south (Simkin 1997). -
First U.S. Troops
On the eighth of March in the year 1965, the first U.S. Troops had arrived in Vietnam. -
Penalty Set For Draft Dodgers
Congress passes amendment against the destruction of Draft Cards or evasion. Penalty is five years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. -
First Draft Card Burning in U.S.
A young man named David Miller was the first to burn his draft card into the Vietnam War efforts. He was the first antiwar activist to challenge a law banning the act (Albano, 2012). This act sparked a wave of protests and draft card burnings throughout the young men in America, which clearly showed the people's view of the war. -
Tet Offensive
During the peaceful night of the Vietnamese Holiday Tet, the Viet Cong and North forces attacked the South. The attacks marked a turning point in the Vietnam War and the beginning of the slow, painful American withdrawal from the region (History.com Staff). News coverage had led to an extreme drop in support of the war effort. -
Vietnamization
Nixon believed his Vietnamization strategy, which involved building up South Vietnam’s military strength in order to facilitate a gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops, would prepare the South Vietnamese to take responsibility for their own defense against a Communist takeover and allow the U.S. to leave the conflict with its honor intact (History.com Staff). This ultimately led to the South's crumbling. -
D.C. Protest
One of the largest protests in history held in Washington D.C. in opposition to furthering U.S. involvement in Vietnam. About half-a-million protesters were present. This was the biggest signal to the president and congress to take action. -
Ceasefire
Nixon and Vietnamese representatives sign a peace agreement, agreeing to cease fire and withdraw troops. This is the beginning of the end of the war. -
Rejection of Further Vietnam Aid
The ceasefire is over. However, U.S. congress has restricted any more troops from being sent to Vietnam. Clear need of withdrawal of involvement is shown. Apparent that the war is soon to reach an end. -
Fleeing Saigon
The U.S. involvement officially over. Hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese refugees board helicopters alongside U.S. troops headed back to the U.S. It was the biggest helicopter lift of its kind in history—an 18-hour operation that carried 1,373 Americans and 5,595 Vietnamese to safety; yet in sheer numbers, the feat was overshadowed by the incredible impromptu flight of perhaps another 65,000 South Vietnamese (Newsweek Staff). -
Fall of Saigon
The capital of South Vietnam, Saigon, was surrendered to the Viet Cong/North Vietnam. The city was renamed Ho Chi Minh city, which still stands today. This event can be referred to as the ending point of the war.
