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Eisenhower explains his "domino theory"
President Eisenhower coined the term "domino theory' during a press confernce while justifying helping the French. It stated that if one country fell to communism others would foloow. This was the American mentality for the rest of the Cold War. -
U.S supports coup of Diem
At first, U.S supported Diem and his government while encouraging him to make South Vietnam more democratic. However, when Diem began to break promises to the U.S. and heavy opposition to his rule arose among the people (especially Baptists) the U.S supported a coup against him -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
On August 7th, 1964 the Tonkin Gulf Resolution was adopted after a North Vietnamese patrol boat allegedly fired torpedoes at the USS Maddox. While not a declaration of war, it granted Johnson broad military powers in Vietnam and escalated American involvement in Vietnam. -
Operation Rolling Thunder Begins
Operation Rolling Thunder was a strategic bombing campaign where U.S. military aircraft attacked targets throughout North Vietnam. It marked the first complete involvement of the U.S in the war and was made in hopes of making North Vietnam government incapable of waging war against the South Viatnamese government. -
Tet Offensive
On the Tet holiday, 70,000 North Viatnamese and Viet Cong forces attacked more than 100 cities in South Vietnam. The attack destroyed American morale and showed that the Vietnam War was far from over. -
My Lai Massacre
American soldiers brutally murdered several hundred innocent Viatnamese civilians in the small vilaage of My Lai. All of them were either children, women, or old men and there was not a single shot fired against the American soldiers. -
Fall of Saigon
On April 30th, aigon, capital city of South Vietnam, fell to North Vietnamese troops. This marked the end of the Vietnam war and the North Viatnemese victory.
