Vietnam Timeline

By Macayla

  • Dien Bien Phu

    Dien Bein Phu was an outpost in Vietnam where the French was fighting and when they began struggling Eisenhower refused to intervene even though the US was the one funding the French so they would fight. Even though his advisors urged him to be more aggressive, he stayed out of the conflict, worried that it would be transferred to the US.

  • Geneva Accords

    The Geneva Accords set out to allow the French to withdraw from the war. The accords led to a ceasefire, a peaceful withdrawal and a division in Vietnam making the communist North and non-communist south. An election was meant to be held to unite the two Vietnams but it only happened in the South.

  • Tonkin Resolution

    The Tonkin resolution was formed after the North Vietnamese fired at two US ships. Congress drafted the Tonkin Resolution, which gave the president permission to escalate in Vietnam. The US sent the first ground troops to Vietnam the next year.

  • Fulbright Commission

    A journalist who interviewed U.S troops wrote to J. William Fulbright about the worsening situation of the war and how it went against what the press showed. In response Fulbright had a television series of educational hearings with generals and foreign policy experts led to a dropping in public opinion but did not lower senate support.

  • Daniel Ellsberg

    Daniel Ellsberg was an analyst and researcher during the Vietnam war and was responsible for the leaking of the 'pentagon papers' as he believed that the Vietnam War was wrong and the papers would disprove the basis behind the Vietnam War. This was partly do with his meetings with antiwar advocate Randy Kelher who encouraged him to look more into the war and led to him seeing it as 'wrongful war'. He was almost charged on espionage and conspiracy but it was dismissed.

  • Vietnamization

    Vietnamization was a policy by Richard Nixon that was meant to end US involvement in the Vietnam War by training the South Vietnamese troops so that all military responsibilities would fall on them. The growing unpopularity of the war had led to a want to abandon the war honorably but to still give South Vietnam a chance in the war.

  • Tet Offensive

    The Tet offensive were attacks done by North Vietnam in cities of South Vietnam. It was meant to deter rebellion in South Vietnam and was retaliation for US involvement in the War. The attacks received media coverage and led to a loss of support for the war. It lasted for about 26 days and despite North Vietnam having much larger causalities, it would prove to be helpful in their victory.

  • My Lai Massacre

    A group of US troops went to the village of My Lai, which was believed to be a stronghold, and went on to kill more than 500 of the inhabitants, all elderly, women and children. They were looking for Viet Cong, searched the huts and despite only finding 3 weapons, they began shooting villagers. There was no one of military age and no causalities among the troops. It was covered up for a year before coming to light, causing international outrage and growth of antiwar feelings.

  • Invasion of Cambodia

    Cambodia was considered a neutral territory but Nixon believed there was communist base camps and supply zones there that they could get rid of by invading.. It was announced in April but there were already bombings beforehand. This was overall disliked by Americans despite Nixon trying to reason that it would give training the South Vietnam soldiers which would lead to a quicker US retreat. Many citizens felt betrayed and protests broke out around the country.

  • Pentagon Papers

    The Pentagon Papers was a study done by the Department of Defense on US involvement in Vietnam. It was released by Daniel Ellsberg who opposed the war and photocopied the papers, believing the public should be informed of it. The papers further ruined US support as it showed the role that the US had in the mounting tension.

  • Christmas Bombing

    Also known as Operation Linebacker II, the Christmas bombing was to try to end the Vietnam War. On the 18th of December 129 B-52's over Hanoi, Vietnam and it lasted for 11 days with a day and a half pause for Christmas. It was the biggest bombing done by these planes and only ended when Vietnam agreed to hear Nixon's terms.1600 Vietnam were reported to have been killed with two B-52's lost on the US side.

  • Paris Peace Accords

    The Paris Peace accords acted as a truce for the Vietnam War. There were two different documents; one for the US and North Vietnam and Viet Cong and One for the US and South Vietnam that didn't include Viet Cong because the South refused to acknowledge them. The accords included a ceasefire, a removal of troops and the release of US POW, and the promise of no attempt reunification.

  • War Powers Act

    The War Powers Act was an act passed which was meant to restrict the presidents ability to be involved in Armed Conflict without permission of Congress. It was passed after the happenings of the Vietnam War and set procedures for troops abroad.

  • Fall of Saigon

    The stronghold of Saigon fell to the People's Army and Viet Cong with an unconditional surrender from the President. Forces were not able to keep up with the speed of the North Vietnamese once they began attacking in December after the resigning of Nixon. This gave them the advantage and allowed them to continue their goal of reunifying the country The United States did not provide aid because of lack of want to reenter Vietnam problems.