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Vietnam declares Independence
Ho Chin Minh declared Vietnam's Independence after Japan surrendered to the Allies. -
U.S. Military aid to French Indochina
The U.S. urged France to complete Independence for Vietnam. Gave $10 million -
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The Viet Minh launched a surprise attack on a large French military base in the mountains of Northern Vietnam. -
Geneva Accords
Once Viet Minh signed the Geneva Accords, the fighting stopped, and vietnam was split along the 17th parallel -
Buddhist Protest of Diem
Buddhists held rallies opposing Diem, sometimes setting themselves on fire. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Allowed the President to "take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the U.S. and prevent further aggressions. -
First U.S. Combat Troops Land in Vietnam
The first troops to arrive landed at a beach near Da Nang, South Vietnam. Although they were greeted warmly by local officials, they quickly set up to guard the air base at Da Nang. -
Debate on Vietnam: Argument from hawks
The hawks were mostly LBJ's political advisors, who wanted to continue to have the U.S military involved in Vietnam. They thought it would be crucial in the wider struggle to contain Communism. -
Debate on Vietnam: Argument from Doves
Not all of LBJ's advisors were for the war. Some of them, called Doves, wanted to move to more of a peaceful solution. They thought the U.S. had no buisness becoming entangled in Vietnam's Civil War. -
Operation Starlite
This was the first major assault by the U.S. ground troops. 1,500 Viet Cong troops were preparing to attack a U.S. air base near the coast. In the end The Viet Cong lost 600, while the U.S. lost 45.
