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Battle of Dien Bien Phu
In 1954, after being defeated at Dien Bien Phu, the French decided to pull out of Vietnam. -
Geneva Conference
At the Geneva Conference of 1954, many nations met to determine how the French could peacefully withdraw.
The agreement (called the Geneva Accords) stipulated a cease-fire for the peaceful withdrawal of French forces & the temporary division of Vietnam along the 17th parallel, which split Vietnam into communist North Vietnam and non-communist South Vietnam. -
Period: to
Vietnam War
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South Vietnam Declares itself
South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam, with newly elected Ngo Dinh Diem as president. -
National Liberation Front
The National Liberation Front (NLF), also called the Viet Cong, is established in South Vietnam. -
Ngo Dinh Diem Executed
South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem is executed during a coup. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
North Vietnamese fired upon two U.S. ships in international waters on August 2nd and 4th, 1964.
Congress responded with the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which gave the President the authority to escalate U.S. involvement in Vietnam. -
First U.S. Troops Sent to Vietnam
President Lyndon Johnson used the authority from the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to order the first U.S. ground troops to Vietnam in 1965. -
Surprise Attack
North Vietnamese surprised both U.S. forces & South Vietnamese by orchestrating a coordinated assault with the Viet Cong to attack a hundred South Vietnamese cities and towns. -
Peace Talks in Paris
Peace talks began in Paris January 25th, 1969. -
Nixon announces attacks on Cambodia
President Nixon announces that U.S. troops will attack enemy locations in Cambodia. This news sparks nationwide protests, especially on college campuses. -
Withdrawal of U.S. Troops
Withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam began in July 1969. -
Nixon becomes President
Richard Nixon became the new U.S. President -
Ho Chi Minh Dies
Communist revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh dies at age 79. -
Easter Offensive
Also known as the Spring Offensive.
North Vietnamese staged a massive assault. They crossed over the demilitarized zone at the 17th parallel and invaded South Vietnam. -
The Parice Peace Accords
Succeeded in producing a cease-fire agreement. -
Last U.S. Troops Leave Vietnam
The last U.S. Troops left Vietnam on March 29th, 1973. -
Reunification of Vietnam
In early 1975, North Vietnam made another big push south which toppled the South Vietnamese government. South Vietnam officially surrendered to communist North Vietnam on April 30th, 1975. -
Vietnam is Reunited as a Communist Country
July 2nd, 1976, Vietnam was reunited as a communist country, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
