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Kennedy's increase of military advisors in Vietnam
President Kennedy exchanges letters with the President of South Vietnam stating that he will increase aid in their defensive effort against communist insurgency including increased U.S. troop commitment. The recommendation was to increase troops by 8,000 and at the time of Kennedy's assassination in 1963, there were more than 16,000 troops in Vietnam. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/kennedy-announces-intent-to-increase-aid-to-south-vietnam -
Gulf of Tonkin & Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
This resolution passed by Congress allowed President Johnson to defend against the attack on U.S. ships in the Gulf of Tonkin by the North Vietnamese. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/gulf-of-tonkin -
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Operation Rolling Thunder
Operation Rolling Thunder was a bombing campaign where U.S. aircraft attacked North Vietnamese to pressure the communists and limit the ability to wage war. This was our first lasting attack on their land and a huge expansion of our involvement in the Vietnam War. President Johnson also approved bombing raids on the Ho Chi Minh Trail to try to disrupt the flow of supplies from North Vietnam to their Viet Cong allies. https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/operation-rolling-thunder -
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The Pentagon Papers
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Tet Offensive
This was a planned series of North Vietnamese surprise attacks on more than 100 locations in South Vietnam aimed at ending the stalemate in Vietnam. Giap believed this would cause the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) forces to collapse and end the rebellion among the South Vietnamese. https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/tet-offensive -
My Lai Massacre
In the My Lai Massacre a company of American soldiers brutally killed most of the people - women, children and old men - in the village. 500+ people were killed and U.S. Army officers covered it up for more than a year before reporting it to the American press. https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/my-lai-massacre-1 -
Election of 1968
In the U.S. Presidential Election of 1968, Republican Richard M. Nixon defeated Democrat Hubert H. Humphrey. https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1968 -
Expansion into Laos and Cambodia
President Nixon authorized more troops to go into Cambodia. This was without approval from the Secretary of State or Defense. This set off antiwar demonstrations at places like Kent State University and Jackson State College. Many in Congress thought Nixon was illegally widening the war. There were resolutions in Congress to limit the executive power of the president. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-approves-cambodian-incursion -
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26th Amendment Ratification
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Paris Peace Accords
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