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Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The Vietminh surround the French military, who are camped on low ground surrounded by hills deep in North Vietnam. The battle was a victory for the Vietminh, and significantly weakened the French military presence in Indochina. -
Geneva Conference
The Soviet Union, the U.S, France, the United Kingdom, and the People’s Republic of China participated in this conference to resolve issues regarding Korean territory, and restoring peace to Indochina. -
Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem
The president of South Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem is assassinated, providing a major turning point for U.S. involvement in Vietnam. -
Assassination of JFK
Lee Harvey Oswald assassinates president John Kennedy, leaving Lyndon B Johnson to succeed him and take over the war efforts in Vietnam. -
Tonkin Gulf Resloution
President Johnson announces that the North Vietnamese had fired on U.S. ships in the Gulf of Tonkin. Johnson proceeded to dispatch air force against the North Vietnamese, and asked congress to pass a resolution. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
A sustained air bombing operation of North Vietnam conducted primarily by U.S. air forces. The goal was to disable North Vietnamese transportation capabilities, boost morale of South Vietnamese soldiers, and to push North Vietnam to resolve the war sooner. -
Tet Offensive
The Viet Cong and the Peoples Army of Vietnam launch a highly coordinated surprise attack against forces in South Vietnam. -
Assassination of MLK
James Earl Ray was a racist segregationist who began planning the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ray rented a room near the Loraine motel where Dr. King was staying, went into the shared bathroom of the rooming house he was staying in, and shot Dr. King on the balcony of his motel room with a rifle. -
Assassination of RFK
Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian immigrant after winning the democratic primary in South Dakota -
Riots at Democratic National Convention in Chicago
Tens of thousands of Vietnam War protesters fight police in the streets, while the Democratic Party is torn apart over an internal dispute concerning their stance on Vietnam. -
Election of Richard Nixon
RIchard Nixon is elected into presidential office as the 37th president of the United States. Nixon takes over the war efforts in Vietnam, changing some policies and strategy. -
Kent State Shootings
Ohio national guard fired upon unarmed college students who were protesting the U.S. Cambodian campaign, killing 4 and injuring 9. -
Cease Fire in Vietnam.
After the cease fire went into effect, both sides violated it. Both sides claimed that their military operations were justified by the actions of the other side, resulting in a chain of retaliations by either side. -
Fall of Saigon
The capture of Saigon, the South Vietnamese capitol, by the Peoples Army of Vietnam (the North Vietnamese forces).