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The Birth of Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh is born. He later becomes the communist leader of North Vietnam. As he tries to reunite the Vietnam citizens. -
Vietnam declares independence from France!
Vietnam declares freedom, even though neither France nor The U.S.A recognized Vietnam as a separate nation. North Vietnam responds with aggression as they militarize and prepare for a possible war. -
President Dwight D. Eisenhower speaks on "The Domino Theory"
The idea of the Domino Theory is to explain that once North Vietnam falls to communism so will the surrounding countries. Then Eventually communism rules the world. -
The Geneva Accords cause Vietnam to be split into North and South Vietnam.
The two countries are split by the 17th parallel. This parallel was a demilitarized zone which didn't allow for any branch of military in. -
The Vietminh defeat the French at Dien Bien Phu
This puts the ball on the United States side of the court as they now have to pick a side and either help their allies or allow the Vietnamese to try and become their own nation. -
The United States withdraws support of Ngo Dinh Diem, leader of South Vietnam
The United States withdrew support for Diem after he killed civilians base on religious intolerance. After the US withdrew support, Diem decided to withdraw from upcoming election. -
Ngo Dinh Diem cancels elections!
Diem cancels election because he realizes that he has no chance to win the election due to the popularity of Ho Chi Minh. As he realized that Minh was the clear favorite as the ruler of all of Vietnam -
The National Liberation Front is formed
The Nation Liberation Front is more formally known as the Viet Cong. This group operated in South Vietnam, even though they indeed were Communist. -
South Vietnamese Monk sets himself on fire!
A Monk in South Vietnam set himself on fire. He does this as almost a Martyr to show the world the crazy religious intolerance of Diem and to show the U.S. that something needs to happen. The monk was Buddhist and this incident helps lead to the overthrow of Diem. -
President John F. Kennedy is Assassinated and Lyndon B. Johnson becomes President
President John Kennedy is assassinated and it was the belief of the American citizens that he would indeed pull us out of the war. Instead LBJ takes office and the escalation of the war begins. -
President Johnson claims that the USS Maddox was fired upon by North Vietnam in The Gulf of Tonkin
President Johnson writes the Gulf of Tonkin resolution. This allows him to practically start a war without taking it to congress. -
The first combat troops set foot in Vietnam
Although this is the date when combat troops first touched down, Advisers were there for the past 15 year (1950).
