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Vietnam War
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The Coining of The "Domino Theory"
The Domino Theory, coined by Dwight Eisenhower, was an idea that if a country was to fall under the ruling of Communism, so would every other country directly adjacent to it. This theory can be argued to be true due to the example of Laos and Camodia falling directly after Vietnam. -
Geneva Accords
The Geneva Accords was a signed agreement in attempt to settle disputes after the Korean War and established a cease-fire along the 17th parallel. This also created North and South Vietnam and sparked the interest of America in this region. -
Assassination of Diem
The tyrannical leader of South Vietnam, Ngo Dihn Diem, was assassinated coup set in place by the U.S government. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolutions granted grand military power to LBJ during the Vietnam War. This resolution was very controversial because some viewed it as unconstitutional and was authorized to take all needed measures to stop the Communist Vietnamese from attacking US interests. -
LBJ ordered 1st troops to Vietnam
After North Vietnamese forces fired upon 2 U.S. Destroyers, LBJ wished to increase the U.S. military presence in Indochina.
This event is significant because it was the first of many troops sent to Vietnam and can be argued to be a pivot for the War. -
Tet Offensive
Tet Offensive was a Vietnamese guerrilla resistance to US and South Vietnamese troops. At the end of the Tet Offensive, both sides had endured losses, and both sides claimed victory. -
My Lai Massacre
After Charlie Company was ordered to enter the village of My Lai for a Search and Destroy mission, American soldiers killed more than 500 unarmed South Vietnamese citizens in the village. -
Nixon's Vietnamization Policy
This was a policy where the United States wanted to shift the responsibility of the war from them to the Southern Vietnamese. It was part of his attempts to remove the US from the war. -
Nixon Sends Troops into Cambodia
In attempt to stop the transportation of troops and supplies going into South Korea, Nixon sent troops and bombed routes that went through Cambodia. And with that, President Richard Nixon gives his formal authorization to commit U.S. combat troops. This was considered an invasion of sorts but there was not much that Cambodians could realistically do to stop it. -
Kent State Shooting
Four students were gunned down by the Ohio National Guard during a protest by students who opposed the Vietnam War. This would be a turning point in the eyes of the American public as their own children were dying at home because of a conflict overseas. -
Hard Hat Riot
In May of 1970, In New York City, about 1,200 blue collar workers attacked protesters who were protesting the involvement of the Vietnam War. This was one of the first demonstrations of what would be known as "the silent majority" a large group of people who felt unrecognized in the American media. -
Nixon's Christmas Bombing
In the northern cities of Hanoi and Haiphong, a massive two-week bombing campaign. This was a response to North Vietnam leaving peace treaty negotiations. The effect of this was that it forced the Northern Vietnamese back to the negations table. -
Paris Peace Accords
In attempt to end the war, the Paris Peace Accords were signed which included a open-cease fire. However, North Korea would not keep up their end of the deal. -
War Powers Act
In attempt to reduce the presidents power of sending troops overseas, Congress passed the War Powers Act. Originally vetoed by Nixon, the act significantly decreased the amount of power he had in the war. -
Saigon Falls
The fall of the South Vietnamese capital, Saigon, happened once US troops had left and the South Vietnamese military could no longer defend it. This later led to the defeat of South of Vietnam as the North continued to push forces forward, eventually leading to the end of the Vietnam Civil War.