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Assassination of Diem
The President of South Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem, was assassinated on November 2, 1963 during a coup. He was assassinated because of his brutal treatment of his opposition and because the US feared that he would cause South Vietnam citizens move towards communism. This event was significant because it marked the fact that the US was starting to become impatient with how South Vietnam had been handling the war. -
Geneva Accords
The Geneva Accords were a set of documents that were written following the Geneva conference that occurred in Geneva, Switzerland and lasted from April 26 to July 20, 1964. The purpose of the documents were to solve issues between Southeastern Asian countries especially North and South Vietnam. The documents were significant because they split North and South Vietnam along the 17th parallel. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was a joint resolution that was passed by congress on August 10, 1964 in response to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident which consisted of an attack on the USS Maddox by Vietnam torpedo boats. The purpose of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was to allow President Johnson to make any choice he felt necessary to maintain peace in Southeast Asia. -
LBJ ordered 1st troops to Vietnam
Lyndon B. Johnson first made the order to send troops to Vietnam on March 8, 1965 in order to protect the air base located in Da Nang. His purpose in sending 3,500 troops from the 9th marine expeditionary brigade was to combat the Vietcong and it was a significant event because they were the first American troops sent to help in the Vietnam war. -
Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive began on January 31, 1968 and lasted until September 23, 1968. The event consisted of multiple Northern Vietnamese attacks on roughly 100 different Southern Vietnamese cities. The Northern Vietnamese used the Lunar New Year celebrations to disguise their attacks. The purpose of these attacks was to force the US to back out of the war and to create distress in South Vietnam. -
My Lai Massacre
The My Lai Massacre occurred on March 16, 1968 and consisted of the brutal murder of roughly 500 unarmed Southern Vietnamese citizens by American troops. The massacre was a part of the search and destroy missions that occurred throughout the Vietnam war. This event was significant because it divided the US and was responsible for a rise in anti war sentiment in the US. -
Nixon becomes President
President Richard Nixon was inaugurated on January 20, 1969 in Washington, D.C. when he became the 37th President of the United States of America. This was a significant event because he would play a major role in the Vietnam war. -
Nixon’s Vietnamization policy
Nixon’s Vietnamization policy was a strategy that was announced by President Richard Nixon on November 11, 1969. The purpose of this strategy was to allow the US to exit the war and allow the Southern Vietnamese to take over the fight. Nixon wanted to use this strategy to create "Peace with Honor." -
Nixon ordered troops to Cambodia
Nixon ordered troops to Cambodia on April 29, 1970. His purpose in doing this was to combat communist Vietnam forces that had set up bases across the border in Cambodia. In doing so, he was also helping his Vietnamization policy. -
Hard Hat Riot
The Hard Hat Riot occurred at noon on May 8, 1970 in New York City. It consisted of roughly 1,800 working class Americans attacking people that were a part of the 1970 student strike that occurred after the Kent State shooting and the US attacks on Cambodia. This event was especially significant because it marked the anger, stress, and chaos that many Americans were experiencing during the Vietnam war. -
Nixon goes to China
President Richard Nixon chose to accept China's invitation to visit and spent one week in China starting on February 21, 1972. During this visit, Nixon began using foreign policy to manipulate the different communist countries and prevent them from coming together to oppose the US. It was a significant event because it was the first time in 25 years that a US President had visited China and it began to create a better relationship between China and the US. -
Nixon’s Christmas bombing
Nixon's Christmas bombing occurred on December 26, 1972 when American planes dropped bombs on the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi. The purpose of this attack was to cripple North Vietnam and prevent them from being able to continue the war by preventing the Northern Vietnamese from obtaining important military equipment. The attack killed 278 Vietnamese. -
Paris Peace Accords
The Paris Peace Accords were an agreement that stated that the US would no longer be permitted to fight in the Vietnam war without permission from Congress and that all US troops would be removed from Vietnam. The Paris Peace Accords were especially significant because the agreement essentially ended the Americans involvement in a war that had lasted roughly two decades. The agreement was signed on January 27, 1973. -
Nixon Resigns
President Richard Nixon resigned on August 8th, 1974 following the worsening Watergate Scandal that had exposed the 37th president for abusing his power. This event was especially significant because it marked the first time in history a President had resigned and almost been removed from office. -
The Fall of Saigon
The Fall of Saigon occurred on April 30, 1975 when the Vietcong and Peoples Army of Vietnam made it to the Southern Vietnam capital, Saigon and conquered it.This event was especially significant because it marked the end of the Vietnam War.