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Domino Theory Coined
The domino theory was coined by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and was essentially a Cold War policy that suggested a communist government in one nation has the ability to spread it to surrounding countries through communist takeovers. This theory applied to the Vietnam war because communism was believed to domino effect through southeast Asian countries, and that sparked the war in general. -
Geneva Accords
A peace agreement that was designed to ensure tranquility in Vietnam but actually ended up dividing Vietnam into communist-controlled North Vietnam and non-communist South Vietnam, which overall contributed to the war. -
Assassination of Diem
After Diems government was overthrown by South Vietnamese forces, President Ngo Dinh Diem was captured and killed by a group of soldiers as a product of his brutal treatment of the opposition to his regime alienated the South Vietnamese populace. His death was celebrated by many people in South Vietnam. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
A joint resolution that the United States Congress passed, granted LBJ the authorization to take all necessary actions in order to prevent any further aggression sourced from an armed attack. The significance of this resolution is that it launched Americas full involvement in the Vietnam war. -
LBJ Orders First Troops to Vietnam
Operation Rolling Thunder, the United States 2nd Air Division, U.S. Navy, and Republic of Vietnam Air Force's bombing campaign designed to force Ho Chi Minh to abandon his ambition to take over South Vietnam was commenced by LBJ and began the deliverance of American troops overseas. -
Tet Offensive
A series of North Vietnamese attacks on more than 100 cities and outposts in South Vietnam with the goal of prompting the United States to relax its involvement in the war. -
My Lai Massacre
A massacre in which a company of American soldiers brutally killed most of the people in the village of My Lai because it was believed those individuals were responsible for the platoons slow movement. -
Nixons Vietnamization Policy
A program focused on ending U.S. involvement in the Vietnam war by supporting and training South Vietnamese forces and helping them be able to withstand the fight independently. -
Nixon Sends Troops into Cambodia
After months of U.S. attacks on communist bases, President Nixon ordered ground troops to invade Cambodia in hopes that bombing the supply routes would weaken the opponents. -
Kent State Shooting
Members of the Ohio National Guard fired at a crowd of Kent State University demonstrators, thereby triggering a nationwide student strike that forced hundreds of college and universities to close. -
Hard Hat Riot
Around 400 construction workers and around 800 office workers attacked 1,000 demonstraters affiliated with the strike against Vietnam and the Kent State shooting. This sparked several more counter-protests. -
Paris Peace Accords
The peace treaty signed ultimately ended the war in Vietnam. -
War Powers Act
The War Powers Act was an act that checked and limit the power of the president by requiring the approval of congress to put American troops in combat. This was created following the Vietnam war because the consequences of unbalanced power in this situation were evident. -
Saigon Falls
The capture of Saigon, which was the capital of South Vietnam, ended the Vietnam War for all parties involved and resulted in the reunification of the country. -
Nixons Christmas Bombing
A massive "carpet bombing" campaign was initiated by President Richard Nixon which were Americans bombing the North Vietnamese on Christmas. The after math of this event is that the North returned to the negotiation table.