-
Jan 1, 1428
Vietnamese Independence
The Vietnamese won their independence from the Chinese after Chinese invaded in the 1400s. -
French Control of Vietnam
France invaded Vietnam and eventually won control. Vietnam was joined with Laos and Cambodia to form French Indochina. -
Japanese Occupation
The Japanese occupied Vietnam and threatened to take over all of Southeast Asia. -
France and Vietnam Go Round 2
When France and Vietnam battled again, Truman supported France, viewing them as a vital ally, and disagreeing with Vietnam's communist views. -
Korean War
The US sided with South Korea and helped them fight Communist North Korea. -
French Surrender
The French were trapped by the Vietminh. With no help from the US, France was forced to surrender. -
Geneva Conference
A great conference was held to decide the fate of French Indochina. A cease-fire was declared and Vietnam was divided between the French and the Vietminh. -
Election
The Geneva convention set an election date for July 1956, but Diem knew he wouldn't win so he didn't set one up. -
Revolution
The Northern Vietnimh sent help to the revolutionaries in the south. -
Vietnamization
Nixon began turning the fight over to the South Vietnamese, while pulling out US troops. -
Operation Chopper
The first time US forces participated in major combat in Vietnam. -
Foreign Assistance Act
When this was signed, the US pledged to defend countries under Communist attack. -
Assassination
Diem and his brother were assassinated by plotters. -
Tonkin Gulf Resolution
Congress passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, allowing the president to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against forces of the United States. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
The US started bombing the North to try to weaken them. This assured the South of US's committment, and they were able to bomb important transport routes. -
The Troops
The Selective Services drafted men to join the war. Most of those that served were poor and uneducated. African Americans suffered a very high percentage of the casualties, though they made up 11% of the population. -
March Against the Vietnam War
A Student-Activist group in DC protestest against US involvement in the Vietnam War. -
Tet Offensive Begins
Vietcong forces drive into the South on the first day of their new year, striking cities, provinces, and military bases. -
Cambodia Bombing
US began bombing neutral Cambodia to show our willingness to use force and to cut off the North's resources from the trail. -
Invasion of South Vietnam
After Nixon ordered more bombings of North Vietnam, the opposition counter-attacked with an intense invasion. Though the North was bombed again, the opposition aquired more territory. -
Kent State Shootings
A student at Kent State University, Ohio, set fire to the schools ROTC building. In response, National Guard Troops were sent to erardicate the protestors. They shot randomly into a group of students, killing four and injuring nine. -
Repeal of Tunkin Gulf Resolution
Congress, in response to the Cambodia bombings, repealed the Tunkin Gulf Resolution. -
Pentagon Papers
The NY Times started publishing secret government documents about the war. They showed how the government had misled the public. -
Paris Peace Accords
A cease-fire was announced. It didn't approach the problem of government in the South, so the US secretly pledged to aid the South. -
Invasion of the South Round 2
After the Southern government collapsed, the North invaded the northern part of the South, and paniced Southerns fled and retreated. -
Southern Surrender
As the North continued to invade, Americans and some Vietnamese were evacuated. The South eventually surrendered unconditionally.