US escalation in Vietnam

By Reese :)

  • US aids France in Indochina

    US aids France in Indochina
    The US began sending aid to the French in Indochina. This was made possible by the Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 1949. All of the US support in Indochina went to the French. This escalates the war because it gives the Viet Cong even MORE reason to fight us and the North.

  • Domino Theory

    Domino Theory
    Eisenhower makes domino theory a legitimate and used term. This gives the US a believable reason to be in Vietnam. It forms an excuse for our involvement.

  • Geneva Accords

    Geneva Accords
    The US and a couple other countries held a conference that aimed to resolve the conflict between the French and Vietnam. The conference doubled as a way for the US to halt communism in Vietnam. They were hoping to do this by placing Diem as their leader.

  • Kennedy

    Kennedy
    Kennedy is elected President. Kennedy wanted to increase aid to SV. Diem was assassinated without JFK's permission. Kennedy was assassinated 20 days later.

  • LBJ

    LBJ
    LBJ became president. Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. The 'Resolution' allows Johnson to use the military on Vietnam without having a declaration of war.

  • Gulf of Tonkin Incident

    Gulf of Tonkin Incident
    The US was occupying Vietnamese waters, unwanted. Vietnam was provoked. The US lied about an attack on it's ships. This all allowed the US to escalate the war. It gave them reason to fire on Vietnam.

  • Bombing

    Bombing
    The White House authorized Operation Flaming Dart. Flaming Dart was an operation where the US launched bombing attacks in North Vietnam in order to combat the Viet Cong. This was before Operation Rolling Thunder which was more intense. This escalated the war directly. It's pretty obvious, direct conflict will escalate a war. Also the bombings weren't that effective because we didn't know where they were.

  • First American Combat Troops

    First American Combat Troops
    The first American combat troops land in Vietnam. 3500 Marines land at China beach. They're going to defend 23,000 military advisors. This escalates the war because the troops are going there to fight the Viet Cong.

  • Zippo missions

    Zippo missions
    Zippo missions were missions led by the US. The goal of these missions were to destroy civilian villages that were suspected of helping the Viet Cong. They would do a whole 'Scorched Earth' tactic. This escalated the war because it raised tensions between the US and Vietnam.

  • My Lai Massacre

    My Lai Massacre
    US soldiers massacred more than 500 civilians in My Lai. Young girls and women were raped and mutilated by the soldiers. They hid the carnage for a year before the press got a hold of it. This escalates the war because it changes the media perception of the war COMPLETELY. It also makes Vietnam hate the US even more.