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French Invasion
Within the time span of 1858-1884, the French invaded Vietnam and made it a colony. -
Ho Chi Minh
A man by the name of Ho Chi Minh helps found the Indochinese Communist Party, further helping along the spread of communism. -
Japanese Invasion
Japan invades Vietnam (French Indochina) with the purpose of preventing the Republic of China from continuing to import weapons and fuel through French Indochina. -
Viet Minh
Ho Chi Minh establishes the Viet Minh, which was a group of people in a League for the Independence of Vietnam. -
Independence and Presidency
Ho Chi Minh is elected president of Vietnam after his many years of experience in other fields of office, and he declares Vietnam as independent. He called it the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. -
Viet Minh Growing
The Viet Minh were able to recieve military advisors as well as weapons from China. -
United States
The United States decided to pledge 15million dollars worth of military aid and supplies to the French in order to help them fight Vietnam more efficiently and stop the spread of communism. -
French Withdrawl
The Geneva Accords (a plan concerning Indochina and Vietnam) created a cease-fire for a peaceful withdrawl of the French from Vietnam, and provided a temporary boundary between North and South Vietnam at the 17th parallel. -
Ngo Dinh Diem
A man named Ngo Dinh Diem is newly elected president, and South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam. -
Viet Cong
A group called the Viet Cong, which was also named The National Liberation Front (NLF), is established in South Vietnam. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident
Two United States destroyers (ships) sitting innocently in international waters were attacked by the North Vietnamese. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
In response to the previous incident, the United States Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which consisted of a solution to establishing and maintaining peace as well as the security and freedom of South Vietnam. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
This was a sustained U.S. aerial bombing campaign of North Vietnam which began on this day. -
U.S. Arrival
The very first set of United States combat troops arrived in Vietnam. -
Tet Offensive
The North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong decide to join together in order to launch something called the Tet Offensive, which was an attack upon about one hundred South Vietnamese towns and cities, including Saigon. -
Mai Lai Massacre
United States soldiers murder hundreds of Vietnamese townspeople of the town of Mai Lai. -
540,000
The number of United States troops in Vietnam reaches 540,000. -
Beginning of U.S. Withdrawl
President Nixon of the United States ordered the first U.S. troop withdrawl of many from Vietnam. -
Death of Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh dies at the age of 79, and his death is not actually released to the public until 48 hours later because of the shock and importance of the former president. -
American Knowledge of Massacre
American citizens learn about the happening of the Mai Lai Massacre. -
Major Protests in America Begin
President Nixon declares that the United States troops will attack enemy locations in Cambodia. Nationwide protests begin, expecially among the younger people, as they attempt to gain peace and stop the war and violence. -
Easter Offensive
This event consisted of the Vietnamese crossing the demilitarized zone at the 17th parallel in order to attack South Vietnam. -
Paris Peace Accords
The Paris Peace Accords were signed on this day in order to provide a cease-fire. -
Final U.S. Withdrawl
The very last of the United States troops were withdrawn from Vietnam. -
North Vietnam Assault
North Vietnam decides to launch a massive attack on South Vietnam. -
South Surrender
South Veitnam actually surrenders to the North Vietnam communists. -
Unification of Vietnam
Vietnam became unified as one communist country. They called it the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
