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Creation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
Starting in 1945, Ho Chi Minh declares independence from French colonial rule. This sets up the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. It was a co-operation between anit-communist Vietnamese and the French government. -
Battle of Diet Bien Phu
It was a battle between French and Viet Minh. The Viet Minh were a Vietnamese, Communist, and Nationalist group. They fought over a small mountain outpost on the Vietnamese border near Laos. -
Creation of the 17th parallel between North and South Vietnam
Vietnam was split into a north and south by the 17th parallel line. The north was a communist-based state while the south was a French non-communist state. The south is where the U will eventually deploy armed forces. -
Pentagon Papers
These papers revealed military aid to France in its colonial war against the communist-led Viet Minh. Presidents Eisenhower, Hennedy, and Johnson continued to send troops. This was all while knowing that the war could not be won. -
Establishment of the National Liberation Front
The front was made to overthrow the South Vietnamese government. It was formally the National Front for the
liberation of the South. The sough to reunify North and South Vietnam. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident and Resolution
North Vietnamese patrol torpedo boats attacked the USS Maddox. But, the ship happened to be in international waters. This cause the US to engage directly in the Vietnam War. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Operation Rolling Thunder was ran by the US over a 3 year period. The campaign was designed to force Ho Chi Minh away from taking over South Vietnam. We sent Air Force and Naval fighters on bombing runs. -
US combat troops arrive in Vietnam
March 8th,1965, marked the day that US troops touched down in Vietnam. They arrived in Da Nagging to protect a US airbase from Viet Cong attacks. -
Tet Offensive
This was the beginning of major North Vietnam attacks on the south. Some 85,000 troops carried out attacks against five major South Vietnamese cities. Dozens of military installations and complete annihilations of towns and villages. -
My Lai Massacre
The My Lai Massacre was an attack on village named My Lai. Hundreds were brutally raped and killed. It caused an international outrage and changed civilians opinions on war. -
1968 Presidential Election
Republican nominee Richard Nixon won the presidential election. He surpassed Vice President Hubert Humphrey and former Alabama governor George Wallace. The War was placed in his hands to handle from here on out. -
1968 Democratic National Convention
Tens of thousands of Vietnam War protesters battle police in the streets. All while the Democratic Party was falling apart. They could not come to an understanding of its own view on Vietnam. -
Tinker v. Des Moines
This was a historic Supreme Court ruling that cemented students rights to freedom of speech. A group of junior high students wore black armbands to school to protest the war in Vietnam. Mary Beth, one of those who participated, was asked to remove the band but refused, ending up being suspended. -
Woodstock 1969
Woodstock was a giant music festival that lasted for 4 days. It was an opportunity for people to escape into music and spread a message of unity and peace. Participents were rained on while 32 acts were performed. -
Kent State University Protest
This was a peaceful protest toward pulling out of Vietnam that turned horrifying. Coast Guard was stationed at Kent State and killed multiple students. All killed and wounded were unarmed. -
Jackson State College Protest
This was an protest that was among the students at a university. They were protesting the Us invasion of Cambodia. There were 12 injured and two casualties. -
1973 Paris Peace Accords
This was the agreement to end the war. It restored peace in Vietnam and ended the US's combat role. They were signed by the US, and North and South Vietnam. -
Watergate
It was a major political scandal involving Richard Nizon's campaign. Someone was paid off to sabotage his presidency. He served from 1972-1974 and resigned. -
United States vs. Nixon
This amendment decision led to the late stages of Watergate. There was then an ongoing impeachment process against Nixon. This was a crucial case that limited the power of any US president. -
Fall of Saigon
This event marked the end of the Vietnam civil war and the start of a transition period. The south Vietnamese capital city of Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese Army. Days before, the US departed from Vietnam soil.