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Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was passed just 5 days after the Gulf of Tonkin Incident began. It granted President Johnson broad military powers without having to declare war. Website Link: http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/gulf-of-tonkin-resolution -
Operation Rolling Thunder Begins
Operation Rolling Thunder was created to target and battle the Vietcong. When it began, it was largely supported by Americans as an operation to fight the spread of Communism. -
Tet Offensive
On the Buddhist holiday of Tet, over 80,000 Vietcong troops emerged from tunnels and attacked almost every major metropolitan center in South Vietnam. Surprise strikes were made at the American base at Danang and the American embassy. In the weeks that followed, the South Vietnamese army and American forces recaptures all of the lost territory. Video Link: http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history/videos/tet-offensive-surprises-americans?m=528e394da93ae&s=uined&f=1&free=fals -
My Lai Massacre
American soldiers opened fire on and killed 300-500 innocent women and children in the tiny village of My Lai. They were supposedly following orders, but American soldiers abused, raped, and mutilated the women. -
Nixon Wins the Election
Former Vice President Richard Nixon won the 1968 election against Hubert Humphrey. Nixon ran on his promise to end the war. When he failed to do that, he faced a lot of opposition. -
Kent State Student Shot
Protestors at Kent State grew in numbers, and they set fire to the ROTC building and destroyed local prperty. The governor of Ohio was forced to send the National Guard to maintain order. A state of high tension and confusion led to several soldiers firing their rifles. Four students were killed and many were wounded. -
Pentagon Papers Published by the NY Times
The Pentagon Papers, which were a top secret overview of the government's involvment in Vietnam, were leaked by Daniel Ellsberg. He thought the public needed to know the secrets the government had been keeping. The papers revealed that many government statements, like the one about the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, were untrue. This caused even more Americans to be cynical about the war.
