Vietnam Era

Vietnam Era

Period: Jan 1, 1945 to Dec 31, 1980

Declaring Independence

Aug 24, 1945

Abroad. Political. This event happened abroad in Vietnam, involving the French and the Vietnamese. The political impact of this event is it ends European Colonization of Asia and Indochina.

French Defeated

May 7, 1954

Abroad. Political. End of battle of Dienbienphu, the french control of Vietnam was ended.

Vietnam Divided

Jul 21, 1954

Abroad. Political. At the international conference in Geneva led communist Ho Chi Minh to rule North Vietnam and democrat Ngo Dinh Diem to ruule South Vietnam.

Vietcong Attacks

Jan 1, 1963

Abroad. Political. Vietcong attack on the US base at Pleiku in S. Vietnam, killed 8 Americans.

Diem Ordees Crackdown Against Opponents

Aug 1, 1963

Home. Political. JFK withdraws support of Diem.

JFK Assasinated

Nov 22, 1963

Home. Social and political. Lydon B Johnson had hard time ahead when he became a new president.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Aug 7, 1964

Home. Political. This gave the United States government permission to take armed attack against other nations to prevent further aggression.

First US Ground Troops in Vietnam

Mar 8, 1965

Abroad. Political. In 6 weeks 50,000 entered and in 1 year 184,000 did.

Richard Nixon Takes Office

Jan 1, 1968

Home. Political. Richard Nixon campaigned on the ideas of restoring "law and order" with "peace with honor".

Tet Offensive

Jan 31, 1968

Abroad. Social and political. US military caught by suprised and shocked them.

Vietnamization

Jan 1, 1969

Abroad. Political. Vietnamization was the process of US troops gradually leaving Vietnam.

US Bombs Bases in Cambodia

Jan 1, 1969

Abroad. Political. Nixon hoped it would eliminate military threat and pressure for N. Vietnam to negotiate peace.

Vietnam War Fed Inflation

Jan 1, 1970

Home. Economic. This was a time of high unemployment. There was a temporary freeze on rent, wages, etc.

Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT)

Jan 1, 1972

Home. Political. Restricted number and type of nuclear war heads and missiles each nation could build.

Nixon Visits Mainland of China

Jan 1, 1972

Home. Social. The social impact of this event is that it helped the US improve relations with China.

Paris Peace Accords Signed

Jan 27, 1973

Abroad. Political. Peace between North and South Vietnam, to end the Vietnam war, and end direct United States involvement.

Watergate Scandal

Aug 9, 1974

Home. Political. During the presidential election, Nixon sent people to spy on the democrats. When the public found out, he resigned before they could impeach him.

Whip Inflation Now (WIN)

Oct 8, 1974

Home. Economic. This was a policy that President Ford set in motion. This was a time of highest unemployment and the nation was slipping into a recession.

Boat People Flee from Vietnam

Jan 1, 1975

Home. Social. After the war ended, the US accepted refugees from Vietnam.

North Vietnam Siezed Saigon

Apr 30, 1975

Abroad. Political. South Vietnam surrenders after North Vietnam invades and Vietnam becomes ruled under communism