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Geneva Accords
Under the peace treaty of the Geneva Accords, France removed their troops from Vietnam, and Vietnam was temporarily divided along the 17th parallel. This was significant because it left Vietnam ripe for revolution and conflict. -
Eisenhower's Domino Theory
Eisenhower's Domino theory included the idea that in unstable countries, if one of them turned to communism, then those around them would also become communist countries. This encouraged the United States to aid Vietnam to try and contain the spread of communism. -
Assassination of Diem
In 1963, the president of South Vietnam was captured and assassinated during a coup. This was the first sign of the conflicts to come in Vietnam -
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
After a United States ship called the Maddox was attacked by a northern Vietnamese gunboat in the Gulf of Tonkin, Congress created the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. This allowed Lyndon Johnson to defend Vietnam and move troops without explicit permission. -
LBJ Orders 1st Troops to Vietnam
In the efforts to contain communism, the first United States troops were deployed at the Danang beaches in Vietnam. 3,500 US Marines were deployed. This was the start of a highly controversial American involvement in the Vietnam war. -
Tet Offensive
The Tet offensive was an event in which the Vietcong attacked over 100 towns and cities in south Vietnam. 12 United States air bases were also attacked. This event was important because it shook the American public, which had been told that the Vietcong was on the verge of defeat. This increased the anti-war movement in America. -
My Lai Massacre
In South Vietnam in 1968, hundreds of men, women, and children were slaughtered in the village of My Lai. This included the rape and mutilation of many women and girls. This was performed by United States soldiers. While first covered up, when the news broke United States civilians were outraged. This fueled anti-war stances. -
Nixon’s Vietnamization Policy
Nixon’s Vietnamization policy involved slowly and tactfully pulling the United States troops out of Vietnam. This involved training Vietnamese soldiers, assigning them to active positions and pulling US troops out. This was done to reduce the US's involvement in the Vietnam war. -
Nixon Sends Troops into Cambodia
In 1970, Nixon sent troops into Cambodia to clear out Vietcong and Northern Vietnam's supply centers. This sparked huge college student protests involving 1.5 million students. This also directly caused the protest that became the Kent State shooting. -
Kent State Shooting
During an anti-war protest gone awry, four students at Kent State University were shot and killed by the Ohio National Guard, with an additional four injured. This increased tensions across the country and deepened many anti-war sediments. -
Hard Hat Riot
Soon after the Kent State Shooting, another anti-war protest was stormed by a group of construction workers. The scuffle turned violent and some 70 people were injured. This event showed the direct clash in the nation between pro-war and anti-war citizens. -
Nixon's Christmas Bombing
After Vietnam refused further peace talks, Nixon dropped 100,00 bombs on Hanoi and Haiphong- two of the largest cities in North Vietnam. The effect of this was that almost the entirety of congress called for the end of the war and Vietnam agreed to negotiate. -
War Powers Act
As a result of the Vietnam war, many changes occurred in the United States' foreign policy. The War Powers Act was put into place to limit the military power of the president. Under this act, the president must tell congress at least 48 hours in advance before moving troops into a hostile area without an official declaration of war. -
Paris Peace Accords
The Paris Peace Accords was “An Agreement Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam." It was signed in Paris and was between the United States, South Vietnam, and North Vietnam. The agreement involved a cease-fire and the United States pulling all troops out of Vietnam. In return, North Vietnam agreed to release Unites States prisoners. -
Saigon Falls
In 1975, after the peace treaty had been signed, Saigon was captured by North Vietnam. This violated the peace treaty, but the United States gave no response. This was considered the end of the Vietnam war, with North Vietnam's effective victory.