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Students for a Democratic Society is formed
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Kennedy Sends Special Forces
Kennedy sends special forces to aid the army of the republic of Vietnam. He wanted the special forces to advise on more effective ways of fighting the Communist forces. -
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Vietnam War
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Anti-Diem Generals Overthrow Diem
With the help of America, Diems generals overthrew him and later assassinated him. They were tired of Diem alienating the citizens. His regime was in shambles and Kennedy determined it was time for new leadership in South Vietnam. -
North Vietnamese and U.S. Forces Clash
North Vietnamese torpedo boats fired at the USS Maddox of the coast of North Vietnam. The destroyer was in the Gulf of Tonkin when shots were fired. No torpedoes hit the destroyer so it returned fire on the boat. -
Johnson is given broad Military power
After the incident in the Gulf of Tonkin, President Johnson asked Congress to authorize the use of force to defend American troops. With only two senators voting against it, congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. This authorized the President to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attacks against U.S. forces. -
America uses the draft
By the end of 1965 most soldiers in Vietnam had been drafted into service. They felt that preserving the government in Vietnam was not crucial to American interests. The drafted soldiers did not want to be there and felt it useless to be there. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
After Vietcong forces killed American troops at Pleiku Johnson ordered the start of Operation Rolling Thunder. The first sustained bombing campaign to take place in Vietnam. Though the bombs rained down, it failed to stop the North Vietnamese to stop reinforcing the Vietcong. -
American Bombing becomes more intense
U.S. airstrikes started to hammer strong points of the Vietcong and North Vietnamese in South Vietnam. Between 1965 and 1973 the American pilots dropped more than 6 million tons of bombs. The American pilots started to use Agent Orange and Napalm to burn the forests and cut down hiding place for the Vietcong. -
Stalemate has developed
The war had devolved into a stalemate and no ground could be made on either side. The war was compared to a quagmire by U.S. critics because of the bad terrain. It was muddy and people would sink and could not exit. -
The Tet Offensive
The offensive move by the North Vietnamese troops. Movement down the coast hitting U.S. and ARVN positions in South Vietnam. 36 provincial capitals, 5 major cities, and even the U.S. embassy was hit during the assault. -
The My Lai incident
American troops looking for Vietcong soldiers came upon the village of My Lai. So many American troops had been killed by Vietcong disguised as civilians that it was bound for disaster. Lieutenant Calley ordered his men to fire on the civilians killing 4 to 5 hundred civilians. -
Rolling Thunder comes to end
President Johnson announced that America would limit bombing in North Vietnam. He also announced that America would like to negotiate a settlement for the war. He then shocked the nation that he would not run for reelection. -
Nixons plan to end the war
Though peace talks between the two sides were not going well, Nixon believed he could break the impasse. Nixon wanted all North Vietnamese troops pulled out and for the POW's to be returned. -
Nixon grows impatient
With the snails pace of the peace negotiations, Nixon wanted results. He ordered a ground attack on North Vietnamese and Vietcong bases in Cambodia. Nixon thought he would also be able to help the Cambodian Government in its fight against the Khmer Rouge. -
Nixon Under Presssure to end the War
Nixon was facing a nation against the war effort and needed to end it. The events at My Lai five years earlier which had been covered up were now getting out, causing protest. With this and the little results of the war people were getting frustrated. -
My Lai is investigated
With poor military investigation of the incident Life Magazine wrote about the murder of innocent civilians. Lt. Calley eventually had a military court hearing and was found guilty. The news of the massacre as well as the cover up just added to fuel for anti-war calls. -
The two sides come to an agreement
With the news of the agreement of the North Vietnamese, Nixon focused on his reelection and allowed the North Vietnamese to call off the agreement. But with a few more dropped bombs the North Vietnamese eventually had to give up and agree to the terms. -
The War Powers Act is signed
The act restricting the Presidents war powers was signed in because of the poor results of the Vietnam war. The president was now required to consult with Congress 48 hours before committing American troops. -
The Paris Peace Accords
The two sides of the war agreed to a cease-fire following U.S. troop withdrawal. POW's would be exchanged for both sides but any North Vietnamese troops in the South would remain there. All American troops were brought back home from the bloody war. -
The Khmer Rouge continues in Cambodia
With U.S. troop withdrawal the Khmer Rouge was able to go untouched in Cambodia. They killed over 2 million Cambodian civilians. This just showed the American misjudgement on the spread of communism.
