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Geneva Accords
The Geneva Accords effectively split the Vietnam territory into two separate parts North and South Vietnam. The location of the split was known as the 17th parallel. Following the two year period of a split Vietnam, elections were to be held in 1956 under international supervision to determine the new political system and government in the newly independent Vietnam. These Elections failed to occur.
(https://alphahistory.com/vietnamwar/geneva-accords-of-1954/) -
Ho Chi Minh Trail
Forces from Northern Vietnam created a trail for transport of materials, weapons, and food to the Southern Vietnam front. This trail went through neighboring Laos and Cambodia. This trail was built to assist those Guerrilla Forces. There were many camps set up along the route underground and above ground including bases for medical treatment and recovery. (https://www.quora.com/Why-was-the-US-unsuccessful-in-cutting-off-the-Ho-Chi-Minh-trail-during-the-Vietnam-War) -
Operation Ranch Hand
The Ho Chi Minh trail had been used to deliver materials and weapons to the Southern front. The Americans response to this trail was to kill off the greenery that would expose those traveling and transporting materials to those assisting in Guerrilla warfare. U.S. aircrafts began to spray thousands of gallons of Agent Orange and other herbicides in attempt to kill the food and vegetation cover of the Viet Cong. (https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-ranch-hand-initiated) -
JFK Assassination/ Death of Diem and His Brother
Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, and Lyndon B. Johnson becomes next president. The United Sates backed South Vietnam in a military coup that leads to the arrest and assassination of Diem and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu. (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ngo-Dinh-Diem) -
Gulf of Tonkin
USS Maddox was attacked by Northern Vietnam torpedo boats, leading to Lyndon B. Johnson calling airstrikes on Northern Vietnamese patrol boat bases. Two U.S. aircrafts were shot down and the first U.S. prisoner was captured by North Vietnam. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed allowing for the President to "take all means necessary, including use of armed forces against any aggressor" in the incident. (http://browseschool.info/gulf-of-tonkin-map) -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Johnson launches a 3 year campaign of bombings along the Ho Chi Minh trail and Northern Vietnam. This operation is known as Operation Rolling Thunder. This Operation lasted from 1965 until 1968. This was the beginning of the Major involvement by the United States in the Vietnamese War. This bombardment was to place pressure on the communist leaders in Northern Vietnam. (https://vietnamwarstory.weebly.com/operation-rolling-thunder.html) -
Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive was a coordinated set of attacks by Northern Vietnam on more than 100 cities in Southern Vietnam. This was the largest set of attacks conducted by either side in the Vietnam War. It was a campaign of attacks against civilian and military command. The initial attacks stunned the United States and South Vietnam, after regrouping the US and Southern Vietnam began to attack and regain control. However both sides faced hefty casualties and American support began to decline. -
Draft 1969
In December of 1969 the U.S. government instituted the first draft lottery since the end of World War II. This led to many U.S. teens fleeing to Canada to escape the draft. This was the first draft since 1942 And the reason for it was to add personnel to the Vietnam War efforts. (https://tldrcivics.wordpress.com/2014/12/01/vietnam-era-draft-lottery-begins/) -
Kent State Protests
Many gathered at Kent State University to protest the bombings on Cambodia. Although pamphlets stated the event was cancelled more than 2000 people still showed up. After trying to disperse the crowds and no sign of any change, the national guard began to use tear gas. Later a guard unleashed rounds on a crowd of students and many other national guard members did the same. The shooting killed 4 students and injured 9.
http://time.com/3377949/urban-outfitters-kent-state/ -
Operation Homecoming
Henry Kissinger agreed to a ceasefire with North Vietnam and also made an agreement that helped release more than 600 POW's captured by the Vietnamese throughout the duration of the war. From February 2nd to April 4th more than 500 prisoners had been released and returned to military hospitals for treatment and recovery. This also was the point at which the U.S. agreed to withdraw its military forces from Southern Vietnam. (http://www.historynet.com/operation-homecoming-gallery.htm)
