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Fall of French Troops (Foreign)
After France's surrender to Germany in 1940 during WWII, Indochina was occupied by Japan. When Japan surrenders and the war ends in 1945, France goes back to Indochina to regain occupation there. The people of Indochina refuse, and battle against each other until the French finally accept defeat. Indochina soon falls under communist rule. -
"Domino Theory" (Domestic)
US President Eisenhower gives speech saying fall of French in Indochina to communists could create "domino" effect. This becomes known as the "Domino Theory". Has people of the US thinking even more about the possibility of another country becoming communist to try and make America communist. -
The Geneva Accords (Foreign)
Established North and South Vietnam with 17th parallel as dividing lines. Also stipulates that elections for government must happen every two years in Vietnam to unify them under a single democratic government. These elections never take place. -
Ho Chi Minh Trail (Foreign)
N. Vietnam forces begin making supply route through Laos and Cambodia to S. Vietnam. Trail made to support guerrilla attacks against Diem's south government. Trail becomes known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail, named after the communist leader of N. Vietnam. -
Presidential Election of 1960 (Domestic)
The first televised presidential election to ever air in America. Democratic United States Massachusetts Senator, John F. Kennedy versus Republican Vice President Richard Nixon. Kennedy wins with 303 votes from the electoral college, becoming the 35th President of the United States. -
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Cuban Missile Crisis (Domestic)
US U-2 planes find evidence of Soviet missile launch sites being built in Cuba. The US and Cuba go missile to missile for a span of 12 days. The two countries eventually decided to disarm their missiles and come to an agreement known as the Limited Test Ban Treaty. This treaty would ban the testing of nuclear weapons. -
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Anti-War Protests (Domestic)
Since the war was the first ever to be televised, America saw the true ugliness of the war and were disgusted by what they saw. By '63, college kids would begin to protests on their campuses, hoping to bring attention to why US troops should leave Vietnam. The protests would soon take place in larger, more popular cities such as Washington DC, San Francisco, and New York City. -
Assassination of Diem (Foreign)
Just twenty days before the assassination of President Kennedy, President Diem of S. Vietnam and his brother, Ngo Dinh Nhu, are brutally murdered. This was a result of the US backing a S. Vietnam military coup against Diem, who was very unpopular at the time. Over the course of the next two years (until 1965), S. Vietnam military coups of twelve different governments would take over, one after the other. -
Kennedy Assassination (Domestic)
In Dallas, Texas, President JFK is shot and killed in his motorcade. The alleged assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, is later shot and killed by Jack Ruby. Kennedy's Vice President, Lyndon B. Johnson, would be sworn in the very same day to take over Kennedy's position, becoming the 36th President. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident (Foreign)
In the Gulf of Tonkin, the USS Maddox is attacked by N. Vietnamese patrol torpedo boats. President Johnson soon orders an airstrike on N. Vietnam. Two US aircraft carriers are taken down, as well as US pilot, Everett Alvarez, Jr., the first US airman to be taken prisoner by N. Vietnam. -
Presidential Election of 1968 (Domestic)
Former Vice President Republican Richard Nixon runs for president after losing to Kennedy in 1960. He goes up against Democrat Hubert Humphrey. Nixon wins with 301 votes from the electoral college, becoming the 37th President of the United States. -
Death of Ho Chi Minh (Foreign)
Ho Chi Minh, the communist leader of N. Vietnam, dies of a heart attack in Hanoi, N. Vietnam. His death is not announced to the N. Vietnamese and the Vietcong until the day after his passing. He is buried in the same city at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. -
US Withdraws (Domestic)
President Nixon signs the Paris Peace Accords, ending the US military's involvement with the war in Vietnam. N. Vietnam accept cease fire right after. As soon as the US troops withdraw, N. Vietnam quickly plans out how to take over the south. To the US, this was one of the biggest American losses to ever happen. -
Nixon Resigns (Domestic)
After what is known as the Watergate Scandal gets revealed, Nixon resigns from his presidency. The fear of the beginning of the impeachment process was the other influence for his resignation. Nixon's VP, Gerald R. Ford, is sworn in soon after and becomes the 38th president. -
Fall of Saigon and South Vietnam (Foreign)
Just two years after the US military withdrawal, the forces of N. Vietnam launch their final attack on the capital of S. Vietnam, Saigon. Without the military aid of the US, S. Vietnam fell to the hands of the north. They were unified and declared a communist country.