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Dien Bien Phu
Dien Bien Phu was not only a town, but also a battle where the French fought the Viet Minh (Vietnamese Communists) and lost. This affected the U.S. because the U.S. was aiding the French in their fight, Eisenhower feared that the domino theory of communism was likely to occur, so they jumped into the fight in order to preserve smaller nations before it was too late. -
President Eisenhower Administration
Dwight Eisenhower became president. -
Geneva Accords
These accords were a series of documents created as an attempt to end the war between France and Vietnam. The Geneva Conference of 1953 highlighted an "agreement" to end fighting, divide Vietnam, ad hold elections to see who/what type of government would run the country. France got out of the conflict, however U.S. involvement increased due to the threat of security in Vietnam. -
President Kennedy Administration
John F. Kennedy became president. -
President Johnson Administration
Lyndon B. Johnson became president. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
This incident was a naval/sea event where 2 torpedo attacks took place on the Maddox and Turner Joy U.S. ships. These were 2 unprovoked attacks by North Vietnam, at that. This led to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which allowed President Johnson to expand his powers by any means necessary. -
Tonkin Resolution
This resolution was in response to an attack on 2 U.S. naval ships in the Gulf of Tonkin. The act gave President Lyndon B. Johnson the right to "take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the U.S. and prevent any further aggression." The incident and the resolution both led the U.S. to become completely involved in the Vietnam War. -
Fulbright Commission/Hearings
The Fulbright Hearings, led by J. William Fulbright himself, were a serious of public and televised hearings where he spoke to many war troops and generals, trying to build up American support for the U.S. to pull out of the war. The hearings had a great effect, meaning it greatly shifted public opinion. Many people began to question the war, and Fulbright became one of the most important anti-war leaders/critics in America. -
Tet Offensive
This was a gruesome attack made by North Vietnam towards South Vietnam during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, also known as Tet *hence the name). The Tet Offensive served as the U.S.'s biggest competitor during the Vietnam War, and it turned Americans' opinions against military/war involvement in Vietnam -
My Lai Massacre
This event was one of the most bloody, most violent acts committed against unarmed citizens during the Vietnam War. More than 500 people, mainly young woman and children, were slaughtered in this event. U.S. officials covered up the situation for about a year before it was released, and when it was, many American citizens were outraged, which increased anti-war sentiment. -
President Nixon Administration
Richard Nixon became president. -
Vietnamization
This was a policy introduced by President Nixon, in which he explained how it would make the U.S. become less involved in the war by equipping and training South Vietnam to fight for themselves. Nixon started moving U.S. troops to other parts of Asia, and when secret plans of a bombing on Cambodia were brought to light, many anti-war campaigns spread across America. Support declined. -
Invasion of Cambodia
President Nixon ordered thousands of troops to invade Cambodia. Cambodia was a neutral country in the war, even though both the U.S. and North Vietnam were moving supplies/planting bombs in it. This was the final straw for American citizens, who were already opposed to conflict in Vietnam. Criticism arose by people who felt that the president was abusing and expanding his powers against the will of Congress. -
Daniel Ellsberg
This man was known for releasing a detailed report of U.S. interventions in Indochina, known as the Pentagon Papers, to the public eye. The papers revealed many secrets of previous presidential administrations which shocked the public, while confirming their suspicions about the U.S.'s involvement in Vietnam. Anti-war campaigns grew. -
Pentagon Papers
These papers were a series of documents revealing the previous U.S. presents' real intentions in Vietnam and the war. These documents, after years of being put together, were released to the public by Daniel Ellsberg. These papers greatly shifted public opinion about the involvement of the U.S. in the Vietnam war. -
Christmas Bombing
The biggest bombing campaign made by the U.S., aka the Christmas bombing, was an event where 20,000 tons of explosives were dropped in North Vietnam, mainly in Hanoi. About a thousand Vietnam citizens died, which struck terror in other Vietnamese citizens' hearts. However, some people saw this event as a good sign that a peace agreement was soon coming. -
War Powers Act
This act limited the powers of the president/commander in chief to escalate military action during war. Even when doing so, they are required to notify Congress when troops have been deployed under their order. Although enacted over Nixon's veto, many Americans still question its power (and the power of the executive branch) today, due to other presidents after Nixon failing to comply with it's terms. -
Paris Peace Conference/Accords
The accords were a formal agreement between the U.S., North Vietnam, and South Vietnam to end the war. It highlighted a ceasefire on all sides, and reunification of Vietnam "step-by-step through peaceful means." It even stated that South Vietnam had the right to chose their own form of government, so U.S. involvement in Vietnam was slim to none. -
President Ford Administration
Gerald Ford became president. -
Fall of Saigon
The Fall of Saigon, or the South Vietnam surrender of their stronghold Ho Chi Minh City to the People's Army of Vietnam and the Viet Cong, signaled the end of the war. Reunification was set to begin, however it highlighted the U.S. sad (and some say failed) involvement in Vietnam. In other words, it was an embarrassment.