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Domino Theory Coined
A Cold War policy that suggested a communist government in one nation would quickly lead to communist takeovers in neighboring states, each falling like a row of dominos -
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
President Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother are captured and assassinated by a group of soldiers. The death of Diem caused celebration among many people in South Vietnam, but also lead to political chaos in the nation. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
A joint resolution of the U.S. Congress passed, in direct response to a minor naval engagement known as the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. -
LBJ Ordered 1st troops to Vietnam
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. -
Tet Offensive
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. Turning point in a bad way for the US, increasing skepticism of the war in America. -
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. -
Nixon’s Vietnamization Policy
Vietnamization was a policy of the Richard Nixon administration to end U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War through a program to expand, equip, and train South Vietnamese forces and assign to them an ever increasing combat role, at the same time steadily reducing the number of U.S. combat troops. -
Nixon sends troops into Cambodia
President Nixon ordered United States troops to occupy parts of Cambodia. Nixon claimed that the soldiers were protecting the United States' withdrawal from South Vietnam. -
Kent State shooting
Members of the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of Kent State University demonstrators, killing four and wounding nine Kent State students. -
Hard Hat Riot
Started around noon when around 400 construction workers and around 800 office workers attacked around 1,000 demonstrators affiliated with the student strike of 1970. -
Nixon’s Christmas Bombing
Richard Nixon initiated a massive “carpet bombing” campaign in Northern Vietnam (mainly Hanoi) that was officially called “Operation Linebacker II” and also 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 (totaling about 23,700) 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
Was a federal law created 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.