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The Geneva Conference took place in Geneva, Switzerland. It was held to attempt to find a way to unify Vietnam and create peace in Indochina. The agreements seperated the nation into a north and south zone.
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This was the first time the United States participated in combat in the Vietnam War. They used helicopters as a part of the new era of air mobility for the U.S.
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Operation Ranch Hand was a chemical warfare procedure the United States Military that lasted from 1962 to 1971. It involved the spraying of over 20 million gallons of chemicals on rural South Vietnam. The goal was to deprive the Viet Cong of food and vegetation cover.
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The Battle of Ap Bac was held against the Viet Cong. It was not a very large battle, but it had major media and political implications. The widespread media helped turn the American people against the war.
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South Vietnam troops that are loyal to Diem dress in regular troops' attire and attack Buddhist Temples. President Kennedy denounces the attacks.
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South Vietnam's president Diem was overthrown. The United States had first supported this president, but many Southerners disliked him. Thus, they allowed him to be overthrown in hope to create greater oppostion of the Viet Cong.
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President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed by Lea Harvey Oswald while driving through Dallas, Texas. He shot him from the sixth story window of the Texas School Book Depository. Oswald killed an officer when he was trying to escape and was killed by a restaurant owner before his hearing took place.
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The Tonkin Gulf Resolution was a resolution presented to Congress by President Johnson. Its purpose was to allow the president to take necessary measures to repel an attacking army. It was passed in response to unprovoked attacks by North Vietnamese torpedo boats on the destroyers Maddox and C. Turner Joy of the U.S. Seventh Fleet in the Gulf of Tonkin.
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Operation Rolling Thunder was meant to be an eight-week bombing campaign of the United States on North Vietnam. The goal was to demoralize the Vietameze people and undermine their government. It failed to accomplish either of these plans and lasted more than three years.
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There were massive demonstrations protesting the war held throughout the United States. Over 200 draft cards were burnt in New York.
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Haiphong had not been attacked because the United States were afraid of hitting foreign ships. Yet, on this date, the U.S. sent 86 airplanes to raid Haiphong.
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Tet Offensive was the name of a military campaign that was led by forces of the Viet Cong and North Vietnam against South Vietnam, the United States, and their allies. Attacks were held during a time of designated cease fire and caught the allies off guard. The allies were able to fight back eventually and communists suffered many casualties.
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In an attempt to halt supply routes to North Vietnam, Richard Nixon ordered bombings on Cambodia that were kept secret from the public. These bombings were authorized without congress' approval, and it increase oppostition of the U.S. in Indonesia.
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Thirty-five B52s dropped more than 1000 tons of bombs. These bombs were dropped in an area near the demilitarized zone between North and South Vietnam.
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Richard Nixon introduced a new strategy called vietnamization. Its goal was to end U.S. involvement in the war by transferring the military responsibilities to South Vietnam.
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Four Kent State students were killed by the National Guard and eight people were injured. The students had been protesting war for about three days with demonstrations. The National Guard claimed a sniper shot at them, but students denied seeing a sniper.
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The voting age had been 21 before this ammendment was passed. People argued that if they were being conscripted they should have the right to vote. Congress finally passed this ammendment giving 18 year olds the right to vote.
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The United States and North Vietnam signed the Paris Peace Accords. Under its terms, US troops would withdraw from Vietnam.
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The War Powers Act claimed that the president must have apporval from congress before he uses armed forces. This resolution was passed by two-thirds of congress so it outruled the president's veto.
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South Vietnam's forces were no match for the North. They gave little resistance when the North launched their final attack on Saigon. North Vietnamese tanks crashed through the gates of the Presidential Palace and the war came to an end. North Vietnamese Col. Bui Tin accepted the surrender from Gen. Duong Van Minh, who had taken over after Tran Van Huong spent only one day in power. The only one claimed to be defeated was the United States of America.
