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Dien Dein Phu is overrun by the Vietminh
The victory pf the Vietminh at Dien Bien Phu put an end to the French colonial influence in Indochina. -
Geneva Accords signed
One of the terms of the Geneva Accords was to separate North and South Vietnam at the 17th parallel, and created a temporary cease-fire on the border. -
Ngo Dinh Diem refuses to take part in elections
Ngo Dinh Diem refused to hold the elections to prevent Vietnam to fall into communist rule. -
Vietcong begins attacks on the Diem government
South Vietnamese communists (Vietcong) begin carrying out terroist acts against foreigners, and government targets. -
SDS Founded
"Students for a Democratic Society" known for its activism against U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. -
US supported coup of Diem
The US supported South Vietnam in its war against the Vietcong until the assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Passed after the Gulf of Tonkin. It was the start of the US involvement in the Vietnam War. -
Operation Rolling Thunder begins
Bombing campaign to keep North vietnam from sending supplies into south Vietnam. About 643,000 tons of bombs were dropped on North Vietnam. -
Tet Offensive
A series of attacks by the North Vietnamese on many Southern cities and towns, and military bases. -
My Lai Massacre
Mass murder of unarmed civilians consisting of women, children, and old men in the village of My Lai that were killed by US soldiers. -
Vietnamization introduced
Introduced by President Richard Nixon to encourage the people of South Vietnam to take more responsibility in fighting the Vietnam War. -
Invasion of Cambodia
United States and South Vietnam invasion to clear North Vietnamese bases within Cambodian borders. -
Pentagon Papers published in NY
The Pentagon Papers were a study by the Department of Defense on the United States' relations with Vietnam. The papers were released by Daniel Ellsberg and published by The New York Times -
Fall of Saigon
The capture of South Vietnam's capital, Saigon, by the North. THe city was renamed Ho Chi Minh City.