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Domino Theory coined- Eisenhower - in light of Vietnam
Eisenhower stated in his speech, “If Indochina goes, several things happen right away. The Malay Peninsula, that last little bit of land hanging on down there, would be scarcely defensible. The tin and tungsten that we so greatly value from that area would cease coming.” One by one, he warned, other Asian nations would be toppled. “So, you see, somewhere along that line, this must be blocked and it must be blocked now.” -
Geneva Accords
As part of the agreement, the French agreed to withdraw their troops from northern Vietnam. Vietnam would be temporarily divided at the 17th parallel, pending elections within two years to choose a president and reunite the country. -
Assassination of Diem
Ngo Dinh Diem was assassinated because of his brutal treatment of the opposition to his regime alienated the South Vietnamese populace, notably Buddhists. In 1963 he was murdered during a coup d'état by some of his generals. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
On August 7, 1964, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, authorizing President Johnson to take any measures he believed were necessary to retaliate and to promote the maintenance of international peace and security in southeast Asia. -
LBJ ordered 1st troops to Vietnam
Acting on the belief that Hanoi would eventually weaken, Johnson and his advisers ordered the U.S. military to launch Operation Rolling Thunder, a bombing campaign against the North. Operation Rolling Thunder commenced on February 13, 1965 and continued through the spring of 1967. Johnson also authorized the first of many deployments of regular ground combat troops to Vietnam to fight the Viet Cong in the countryside. -
My Lai Massacre
The My Lai Massacre was an incident that occurred when American soldiers killed more than 500 unarmed South Vietnamese citizens in the village of My Lai. It occurred when Charlie Company was ordered to enter the village for a search and destroy mission. -
Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive of 1968 was a coordinated series of North Vietnamese attacks on more than 100 cities and outposts in South Vietnam. The offensive was an attempt to foment rebellion among the South Vietnamese population and encourage the United States to scale back its involvement in the Vietnam War. -
Nixon’s Vietnamization policy
'Vietnamisation' was an American strategic policy pertaining to Vietnam. Its aim was to facilitate the self-sufficiency of South Vietnamese troops and allow the gradual withdrawal of United States troops from South Vietnam. -
Hard Hat Riot
In front of Federal Hall and under the statue of George Washington, construction workers stormed a student protest against the Vietnam War and chased both students and bystanders through the streets, beating and kicking them -
Kent State shooting
On May 4, 1970, members of the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of Kent State University demonstrators, killing four and wounding nine Kent State students. -
Nixon sends troops into Cambodia
In an effort to disrupt North Vietnamese supply lines, President Nixon secretly ordered the US Air Force to conduct an extensive bombing campaign in eastern Cambodia. -
Nixon's Christmas Bombing
On Dec. 18, 1972, Richard Nixon initiated a massive “carpet bombing” campaign in Northern Vietnam that became known as the Christmas bombing campaign. It lasted for 11 days. More than 20,000 tons of explosives were dropped, including on civilians. -
Paris Peace Accords
The settlement included a cease-fire throughout Vietnam. In addition, the United States agreed to the withdrawal of all U.S. troops and advisors and the dismantling of all U.S. bases within 60 days. In return, the North Vietnamese agreed to release all U.S. and other prisoners of war. -
War Powers Act
This is a federal law intended to check the U.S. president's power to commit the United States to an armed conflict without the consent of the U.S. Congress. -
Saigon Falls
The South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese Army, effectively ending the Vietnam War.