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Domino Theory
The Domino Theory is a term Eisenhower coined; it's the theory that if one country falls to communism, others will fall very quickly. This theory is significant because it led to the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War. -
Geneva Accords
It's a peace agreement that temporarily divided Vietnam along the 17th parallel. The purpose of this was to peacefully settle issues and reunify Vietnam. -
Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem
A U.S.-supported military coup assassinated Diem because he was making South Vietnam very unstable. The purpose of this event was to stop the brutal government Diem created. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution granted President Johnson broad military powers in Vietnam and authorized powers to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States. This is significant because it increased the U.S.'s involvement in the Vietnam War. -
LBJ Orders the 1st Troops to Vietnam
In February of 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson orders a bombing in North Vietnam called "Operation Rolling Thunder." The purpose of this event was to respond to a Vietcong attack that killed eight Americans. -
Tet Offensive
(January 30, 1968 - February 24, 1968)
A lot of villagers in South Vietnam went into cities to celebrate their new year. There were also funerals being held for war victims. The coffins had weapons and some of the villagers were Vietcong agents; those agents attacked over 100 cities in South Vietnam. These attacks continued for about a month until South Vietnam and the U.S. forces regained control of the cities. The purpose of this offensive was to try and force the U.S. to withdraw its troops. -
My Lai Massacre
A U.S. platoon under the command of Lieutenant William
Calley, Jr., had massacred innocent civilians in the small village of My Lai in northern South Vietnam. This event is significant because it fueled the anti-war sentiment and further divided the U.S. over the Vietnam war. -
Nixon's Vietnamization Policy
Vietnamization is the U.S. policy that called for the gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops in order for the South Vietnamese to take on a more active combat role in the war. The purpose of this event was to reduce the U.S.'s involvement in the Vietnam War. -
The Invasion of Cambodia
President Nixon announced that U.S. troops had invaded Cambodia to clear out North Vietnamese and Vietcong supply centers. The purpose of this event was to eliminate the cross-border threat and reinforce the South Vietnamese government. -
Kent State Shooting
There was a massive student protest that led to the burning of the ROTC building. In response, the local mayor called in the National Guard; they fired live ammunition into a crowd of campus protesters who were hurling rocks at them. This event is significant because it showed how the U.S. was becoming more divided over the war. -
Hard Hat Riot
A group of construction workers and other blue-collared Americans who supported the U.S. government's war policies stormed a student protest against the Vietnam War and attacked them. The purpose of this event was to stop anti-war protests. -
Nixon's Christmas Bombings
President Nixon plans a bombing campaign against Hanoi and Haiphong; U.S. planes dropped 100,000 bombs over the course of eleven straight days, pausing only on Christmas Day. The purpose of this event was to break the stalemate between North and South Vietnam. -
Paris Peace Accords
It's an "Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam." The purpose of this peace treaty was to stop the fighting between North and South Vietnam. -
War Powers Act
The War Powers Act's purpose is to limit the U.S. president's ability to initiate war. This act requires a president to inform Congress within 48 hours of sending forces into a hostile area without a declaration of war. -
Saigon Falls
In March of 1975, the North Vietnamese launched a full-scale invasion against the South and captured the city. This event is significant because it brings the end of the Vietnam War.