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France invades
In 1858, the French invaded Vietnam with commercial and military interest and colonized the country.
[The 1st of Janurary is not the actul date] -
Ho Chi Minh helps found the Indochinese Communist Party.
Ho Chi Minh helps found the Indochinese Communist Party.
[the 1st is not the actul date] -
Japan Invades
Japan invades Vietnam. -
Ho Chi Minh establishes the Viet Minh
League for the Independence of Vietnam.
[The 1st is not the actual date] -
Ho Chi Minh declares an independent Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh declares an independent Vietnam, called the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. -
The Viet Minh receive military advisors and weapons from China.
The Viet Minh receive military advisors and weapons from China.
[The !st is not the actual date] -
U.S. helps France
The United States pledges $15 million worth of military aid to France to help them fight in Vietnam.
[The 1st is not the actual date] -
The French suffer a decisive defeat at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The French suffer a decisive defeat at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. -
Geneva Helps
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. -
The split of north and south
South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam, with newly elected Ngo Dinh Diem as president. -
President Nixon order some U.S. troops to withdraw from vietnam
President Nixon orders the first of many U.S. troop withdrawals from Vietnam.
[The 1st is not the actual date] -
NLF established
The National Liberation Front (NLF), also called the Viet Cong, is established in South Vietnam. -
President Ngo Dinh Diem Executed
South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem is executed during a coup. -
north vietnamese attack two U.S. destroyers
North Vietnamese attack two U.S. destroyers sitting in international waters (the Gulf of Tonkin Incident).
NOTE: The Date is the 2nd and 4th of August. -
The gulf of Tonkin Resolution
In response to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, the U.S. Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. -
A sustained U.S. aerial bombing campaign of North Vietnam begins
A sustained U.S. aerial bombing campaign of North Vietnam begins (Operation Rolling Thunder). -
First U.S. combat troops arrive in Vietnam.
The first U.S. combat troops arrive in Vietnam. -
North Vietnam and Viet Cong join together
The North Vietnamese join forces with the Viet Cong to launch the Tet Offensive, attacking approximately one hundred South Vietnamese cities and towns. -
U.S. soldiers kill hundreds of Vietnamese
U.S. soldiers kill hundreds of Vietnamese civilians in the town of Mai Lai. -
General William Westmoreland replaced
General William Westmoreland, who had been in charge of the U.S. troops in Vietnam, is replaced by General Creighton Abrams.
[The 1st is not actual date] -
U.S. troops in vietnam (540,000)
U.S. troops in Vietnam reaches 540,000.
[The 1st is not the actual date] -
Ho Chi Minh Dies
Communist revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh dies at age 79. -
The American public learns of the Mai Lai massacre.
The American public learns of the Mai Lai massacre. -
President Nixon announces that U.S. troops will attack enemy locations in Cambodia
President Nixon announces that U.S. troops will attack enemy locations in Cambodia. This news sparks nationwide protests, especially on college campuses. -
Portions of the Pentagon Papers are published in The New York Times.
Portions of the Pentagon Papers are published in The New York Times. -
The Easter Offensive
The North Vietnamese cross the demilitarized zone (DMZ) at the 17th parallel to attack South Vietnam in what became known as the Easter Offensive.
[The 1st is not the actual date] -
The Paris Peace Accords are signed
The Paris Peace Accords are signed that provide a cease-fire -
All 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.
[The ist is not the actual date.] -
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. -
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. is dedicated.