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The Geneva Conference (Major Military Operations / Political Event)
This marks the beginning of the Vietnam War. The Democratic South and Communist North Vietnam are established as divided. They were given 2 years for elections to vote for leaders. This starts a 20+ year period of war and difficulty in Vietnam. -
Leaders (Major Military Operations / Political Event)
Nationalist Ngo Dinh Diem emerges as the leader of South Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh is the leader of communist North Vietnam. The U.S. sides with the South. -
National Liberation Front (Major Military Operations / Political Event)
This group is opposed to South Vietnam's government and particularly Ngo Dinh Diem. The U.S is opposed to this group, and views them as North Vietnam allies. The United States reacted by sending military advisers for Diem. -
Kennedy elected (Homefront events in the U.S.)
John F. Kennedy beats Richard Nixon in the U.S. presidential election. Kennedy goes on to continue America's support of South Vietnam. He goes on to send resources among others to the South to help. -
Diem is Assassinated (Major Military Operations / Political Event)
South Vietnam's President Diem and his brother are assassinated. This event is following many protests anti-Diem, as people are unhappy with Diem's regime which had favored Catholics as opposed to Buddhists, which is the majority religion. A coup is created, with the support of the U.S, and kills the two brothers. -
Kennedy is Assassinated, Johnson is Elected (Homefront events in the U.S.)
President Kennedy is assassinated. This leads to the election of Lyndon B. Johnson. Johnson becomes involved in the war soon after. -
Gulf of Tonkin (Major Military Operations / Political Event)
This is the start of the United States full involvement in the war. President Johnson gains permission to enter the war from congress, who tells the President, “take all necessary measures, including the use of armed force.” American military arrives in Vietnam soon after. -
New South Vietnam President (Major Military Operations / Political Event)
General Nguen Van Thieu becomes president of South Vietnam. He was also a Catholic, which was part of the reason the prior president was killed. America continues their support of the South under Thieu's lead. -
American's Protest (Homefront events in the U.S.)
American's were not happy with the decision to send the military to war. Thousands gathered in multiple places around the country including New York and D.C. to protest. American's held this grudge throughout the entirety of the war. -
Nixon Elected (Homefront events in the U.S.)
Richard Nixon was elected as the new president of the United States. Johnson had not re-run for office, leading to Nixon being elected. Nixon began to take positive steps in the eyes of American citizens, saying that he would end the war. -
Military Draft (Homefront events in the U.S.)
The United States prompted the first war in multiple decades, since World War 2. Young American men were terrified to be drafted, and the American people were not happy with the decision to hold a draft. This action inspired many to move North to Canada, in order to avoid the danger of War. -
Kent State Shooting (Homefront events in the U.S.)
4 students from Kent State were shot while protesting the war. This infuriated Americans, as the country has "freedom of speech," and the military who killed the students did not allow it. Nine others were hurt in the protest, making American's even more mad about the war. -
New York Times Report (Homefront events in the U.S.)
The New York Times reported that the U.S. had slowly become more and more involved in the war. This information came from leaked papers from the Pentagon, detailing their involvement, This only increased the fury Americans had, as not only did they not support the war, but the Government was not even being hones with what was happening. -
Paris Peace Accords Signed (Major Military Operations / Political Events)
President Nixon signs the Paris Peace Accords, closing direct U.S. involvement in the War. This is the start of what American's wished for, as the military began to come back home. The war has not finished, as North Vietnam is still trying to gain control of the South, however America is done with helping. -
Nixon Resigns, Ford Becomes President, Ends War (Homefront events in the U.S.)
President Nixon resigns as he was facing a likely impeachment. Gerald Ford becomes the President following this, and shortly after rules out any future military involvement in Vietnam. All troops are finally back from Vietnam, and it was no longer a concern of Americans.