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Period: to
Vietnam timeline
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Freedom of Vietnam
Allies beat Japan in WW2. Japan surrenders control of all indochina. Under Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam announced its freedom. -
French Takeover
French troops drive out the Vietminh, and french officials set up a new government. Fighting increases and France asks the U.S. for help. -
Geneva Conference
The Geneva Conference separated North and South Vietnam along the 17th parallel. It also put Ho Chi Minh in control of North Vietnam and a pro-western government in control of South Vietnam. Then in 1956 they would hold elections to see which government the people wanted. -
Defeat at Dien Bien Phu
French troops occupy Dien Bien Phu in hope of severing supply lines. Vietminh surround the city and force the french to surrender. -
Election Day
Diem refused to participate in the elections because he didn’t believe the north would hold a free election. United States continue aid to South Vietnam. -
Kennedy Addministration
Kennedy also supported South Vietnam. Much like the presidents before him he saw South Vietnam as very important in the fight against communism. -
Overthrow of Deim
The military leaders launched a coup to overthrow Diem. They were successful and then executed him. This only made things worse for South Vietnam. -
Tonkin Resolution
This gave the president the military power to do what he saw fit to protect our armed forces. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Operation Rolling Thunder was a constant bombing campaign against North Vietnam. In the same month, the first American soldiers were put to action in Vietnam. -
Tet Offencive
Tet Offensive-1968- Vietcong and North Vietnamese military attacked almost all the American air bases in South Vietnam. They also attached major cities in the south. -
MLK is Killed
Martin Luther King Jr. was killed by James Earl Ray. Ray was arrested, but the event lead to many riots. -
Robert Kennedy is Killed
After winning California's Democratic primary Robert Kennedy was shot Sirhan Sirhan. He was supposedly angry about Roberts pro-Israeli remarks. -
Vietnamization
Was the US slowly pulling out their troops and South Vietnam was supposed to do more of the fighting. On June 8, 1969 Nixon announced the withdrawal of 25,000 troops. -
Lottery Draft
The draft was upsetting to many people. It became less of a problem when they introduced the lottery system. This made it so only people with low lottery numbers were part of the draft. -
Massacre at My Lai
An American Platoon under Lieutenant Calley killed 200 unarmed South Vietnamese citizens. Most of the victims were old men, women, and children. Calley was later put in prison for what happened. -
Kent State
Ohio National Guard fired on demonstrators without orders to. The National Guard killed four students and injured at least 9. -
26th Amendment
Gives all citizens 18 and older the right to vote. This came about because many draftees complained that if they were old enough to go to war they were old enough to vote. -
War Powers Act
This redistributed some of the president's power.The act made the president tell Congress of any active troops abroad within 48 hours and to withdraw them in 60 to 90 days unless Congress approves. -
US Troops Withdrawn
The troops were withdrawn just before North Vietnam made its final attack. Nixon said he would attack if North Vietnam did, but he resigned due to the watergate scandal. -
Surrender of South Vietnam
North Vietnam captured the capital of South Vietnam, Saigon, and renamed it Ho Chi Minh CIty. This united Vietnam under a single communist government.
