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Vietnam War
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Dien Bien Phu
The Viet Minh Launch an attack on the French at Dien Bien Phu. this assulat will go on for 2 months and spark US involvement. -
Domino Theory
A term coined by Dwight D. Eisenhower to describe how Asia would fall to Communism if it were allowed to spread to Vietnam. If vietnam adopted communism so would other countries such as Japan and India. -
Geneva Conference
An attempt to find Peace in Indochina and the Korean Penninsula. The United states, China, Russia, United Kingdom and France were all participants. Resulted in the Geneva Accords which divided vietnam in half along the 17th parallel. The conference was meant to settle dispute weather countries would be under communist rule or democracy and splitting it is how they agreed. -
Operation Passage to Freedom
After the Parallel was established US and French Forces moved Vietnamese civilians south from the communist north to what would be the Republic of Vietnam later. The U.S moved 310,000 and the French moved 500,000. -
17th parallel partition of Vietnam
North and South Vietnam were Seperated along the 17th Parallel. The north being Communist and the south being democratic. They would hold elections in both halves after a 300 day period where Vietnamese citizens could travel freely between each half. -
First US death
The first death from combat for the US. This teh point of the start of the Vietnam war for many Americans tho the tension had been building for some time. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
Also known as the USS Maddox incident. A US vessel confronted a Vietnamese torpedo ship and they exchnged blows in the gulf of tonkin which resulted in the Tonkin resolution and the escalation of the Vietnam war under President Johson. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Granted Lindon B. Johnson conventional use of teh military without declaring war through congress. After the Resolution was passed US involvement in Vietnam would escalate. -
First Deployment
The US sends 3,500 Marines to Vietnam for defense purposes. the US was in support of this decision. This marked the beginning of the US ground war. -
Penalties for Dodging the Draft
Many men would destroy their Draft Cards in protest of the war. The US government responded by making an amendment to the selectve service act that could put men in prsion for 5 years and fine $10,000 for destroying cards. -
Tet Offensive
An Attack from the north that suprised US troops. Happened on the Vietnamese Tet Holiday. Fighting would last for months. 2,500 US casualties and 37,000 Viet cong fighters -
Longest War
Vietnam Marked as the Longest War in US history. The beginning marked by the 1st casualty in 1961. -
Vietnamization
543,000 US troops are in Vietnam at this time. President Nixon proposes that Vietnamese begin to fill role that is filled by US troops and Withdraws 25,000 Troops. -
Ho Chi Mihn Dies
At age 79, Ho Chi Mihn dies. This happens before his military seizes Saigon. His body was put on display. -
Kent State
Protestors at Kent State University refuse to disbirse during their anit war protests. Ohio National Gaurd shoots intot eh crowd killing 4 and wounding 9 people. 2 were proteststing and the other 2 were just walking to class. Universities shut down all over the country. -
Vietnam War ends
War is officially over for the US. They withdrew the last soldiers. By this time 3 million US soldiers had served. 60,000 dead and 150,000 wounded. this happens after the ceasefire is signed between North and south vietnam and the US. No further US involvement would continue.
