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Creation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh created the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. He had support from communist Russia and China. This happened shortly after the country gained independence from France. -
Declaring of the Republic of Vietnam
Written by Hồ Chí Minh, the declaration of the republic of Vietnam was made to announce the countries newfound freedom. The document represented the replacement of the Nguyen dynasty. -
Creation of the 17th parallel between North and South Vietnam
This was the event that divided Vietnam into two halves; the north and the south. The north was communist, and had support from China and Russia. The south was not communist, and had support from the US, due to the fact that the US wanted to stop the spread of communism by helping non-communist countries fight it, -
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
This battle took place in the northern region of Vietnam, and lasted for 56 days. It was between the French Union forces and the Vietnamese Viet Minh. The French were ultimately defeated, leading to the division of Vietnam into two separate states. -
Establishment of the National Liberation Front
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Gulf of Tonkin Incident and Resolution
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident was a series of events in which the US claimed that its navy was attacked by North Vietnamese soldiers. The US government used this as justification to use military force in Southeast Asia. This paved the way to our involvement in the Vietnam War. However, some evidence was found that our government may have exaggerated Vietnam's attack on our navy to justify joining the war. -
US combat troops arrive in Vietnam
This event marked a significant increase in America's involvement in the conflict. We sent combat troops to support South Vietnam in the fight against communist North Vietnam. The US's arrival faced both support and opposition at home. -
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Operation Rolling Thunder
Operation Rolling Thunder was a bombing campaign by the United States against North Vietnam.
The campaign aimed to attack the North Vietnamese economy and infrastructure and disrupt their military.
Despite its impact, the operation never achieved its objectives and resulted in significant damage to both sides. -
1968 Democratic National Convention
The 1968 Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago and marked a turning point in American politics. The convention was swarmed by protests and clashes between anti-war demonstrators and police, leading to a violent confrontation that was broadcasted on national television. The event was symbolic of the deep divisions and social unrest that characterized American society. -
My Lai Massacre
The My Lai Massacre was a massacre of unarmed Vietnamese civilians, mostly women and children, by US Army soldiers in March 1968. The soldiers had been instructed to search for Viet Cong in the area, but instead, they rounded up and executed the civilians. The incident was initially covered up but later exposed, leading to a public outcry and increased opposition to the US involvement in the war. -
Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive was a series of surprise attacks launched by the North Vietnamese against South Vietnamese and American military. Although the US and South Vietnamese forces eventually regained control of the areas targeted in the offensive, the attack was a significant turning point in the war and contributed to growing public opposition to US involvement in Vietnam. -
1968 Presidential Election
The 1968 presidential election was a pivotal moment in American history that marked a shift in politics and society. Richard Nixon, running as the Republican candidate, narrowly won the election against the Democratic candidate, Hubert Humphrey. -
Woodstock 1969
Woodstock 1969 was a music festival held in Bethel, New York, from August 15 to 18, 1969. It attracted over 400,000 people and is considered one of the most iconic events in music history. The festival’s main idea was fighting the war with love and encouraging peace. -
Tinker v. Des Moines
The Tinker v. Des Moines was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that took place in 1969. The case arose when a group of students in Des Moines decided to wear black armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War. The school board responded by banning the armbands, and the case ultimately made its way to the Supreme Court. The Court ruled that students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.” -
Kent State University Protest
The Kent State University protest was a series of protests that took place on the campus of Kent State University in Ohio in May 1970. The protests were in response to the US government's decision to invade Cambodia during the Vietnam War. The situation escalated into a confrontation between the guardsmen and the protesters, resulting in the tragic shooting of unarmed students, leaving four dead and nine injured. -
Jackson State College Protest
On May 14, 1970, a protest at Jackson State College in Mississippi turned violent when police officers opened fire on a group of unarmed students. The protest was against the Vietnam War and the recent killing of four students at Kent State University. -
Pentagon Papers
The Pentagon Papers were a top-secret government report on U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War that leaked inside information. It revealed that the U.S. government had been lying to the American public and Congress about its intentions to join the war and the likelihood of success.
The revelations in the report contributed to a growing distrust towards the government. -
Watergate
Watergate was a political scandal that occurred in the early 1970s in the United States. It involved the break-in and subsequent cover-up of the Democratic National Committee headquarters by individuals connected to President Richard Nixon's re-election campaign. The scandal led to Nixon's resignation in 1974 and had a profound impact on American politics and society, eroding trust in the government and media. -
1973 Paris Peace Accords
The 1973 Paris Peace Accords marked the end of the Vietnam War and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam. The agreement was signed by the United States, North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and the Viet Cong. It established a ceasefire and called for negotiations to create a political settlement, but the agreement ultimately failed to bring lasting peace to Vietnam. -
United States vs. Nixon
The United States v. Nixon case was a landmark by the Supreme Court that held that the President of the United States was not above the law and had to comply with subpoenas and other court orders. The case arose from the Watergate scandal, in which President Richard Nixon was accused of ordering a cover-up of the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. -
Fall of Saigon
The Fall of Saigonwas the capture of the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon by the North Vietnamese army on April 30, 1975. This marked the end of the Vietnam War and the reunification of North and South Vietnam, under communism. Despite receiving help from the United States, South Vietnam was unable to withstand the North Vietnamese army.