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Ho Chi Minh is born
Ho Chi-Minh was the founder and first leader of Vietnam’s nationalist movement. Starting at an early age at the dawn of the 20th century, Ho became a strident voice for an independent Vietnam. He became the symbol of Vietnamese liberation and the arch rival to the United States during the Vietnam War. -
Vietnam declares independence from France , but neither France nor the United States recognize Vietnam as a separate nation
Vietnamese communist Ho Chi Minh declares the independence of Vietnam from France. The proclamation paraphrased the U.S. Declaration of Independence in declaring, “All men are born equal: the Creator has given us inviolable rights, life, liberty, and happiness!” and was cheered by an enormous crowd gathered in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh Square. It would be 30 years, however, before Ho’s dream of a united, communist Vietnam became reality. -
President Eisenhower declares "Domino Theory"
The so-called “domino theory” dominated U.S. thinking about Vietnam for the next decade. -
The Geneva Accords cause Vietnam to be split into North and South
Divided at the 17th parallel. In an effort to resolve several problems in Asia, including the war between the French and Vietnamese nationalists in Indochina, representatives from the world’s powers meet in Geneva. The conference marked a turning point in the United States’ involvement in Vietnam. -
The Viet Minh and Ho Chi Minh defeat the French at Dien Bien Phu
The Viet Minh victory at Dien Bien Phu signaled the end of French colonial influence in Indochina and cleared the way for the division of Vietnam along the 17th parallel at the conference of Geneva -
The United States withdraws support of Ngo Dinh Diem , leader of South Vietnam
President Eisenhower approves a National Security Council paper titled “Review of U.S. Policy in the Far East.” This paper supported Secretary of State Dulles’ view that the United States should support Diem, while encouraging him to broaden his government and establish more democratic institutions. however, Diem would refuse to make any meaningful concessions or institute any significant new reforms and U.S. support was withdrawn. -
Ngo Dinh Diem cancels elections in Vietnam
Although Diem did not reject the principle of election, he said that any proposals from the communist Viet Minh were out of the question “if proof is not given us that they put the higher interest of the national community above those of communism.” -
The National Liberation front is formed
This organization, more commonly known as the National Liberation Front , was designed to replicate the success of the Viet Minh, the umbrella nationalist organization that successfully liberated Vietnam from French colonial rule. -
A South Vietnamese monk sets himself on fire
In June of 1963, Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhist monk Thích Quang Duc burned himself to death at a busy intersection in Saigon. He was attempting to show that to fight all forms of oppression on equal terms, Buddhism too, needed to have its martyrs.Photographer Malcolm Browne captured the scene in Saigon for the Associated Press, and the stark black and white image quickly became an iconic visual of the turbulent 1960s. -
President Kennedy is assassinated,leading to the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnsom.
Following the assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as president of the United States aboard Air Force One before the plane leaves Dallas for Washington, D.C. -
President Johnson claims a US ship had been fired upon by the North Vietnamese
The resolution was prompted by two separate attacks on two U.S. Navy destroyers, U.S.S. Maddox and U.S.S. Turner Joy, which allegedly occurred on August 2 and August 4, 1964, respectively. -
The first combat troops arrive in Vietnam
The first U.S. combat troops arrive in Vietnam as 3500 Marines land at China Beach to defend the American air base at Da Nang. They join 23,000 American military advisors already in Vietnam.
