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French Colonization of Vietnam
Vietnam was colonized by France in 1887. France continued to have control of Vietnam until the Geneva Agreements in 1954 which made Vietnam independent. -
End of World War II
World war two started as a result of Germany invading Poland. The war lasted for six years and finally ended on September 2nd 1945. This is what gave Vietnam its independence and allowed Ho Chi Minh to have control. -
Ho Chi Minh takes control of Vietnam
After being imprisoned for trying to start a communist government, Ho Chi Minh's group takes over the government of North Vietnam and appoints him as president. -
President of South Vietnam is overthrown
President Ngo Dinh Diem is overthrown by a coup that disagreed with his government. This led to Diem being executed and a new government being put into place. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident
While floating in the Gulf of Tonkin, the USS Maddox is attacked by North Vietnam. Both the US and Vietnam were affected by this, but four Vietnamese soldiers were killed whereas none were killed on the US side. This is one of the reasons that America got involved in the Vietnam War. -
America gets involved in the Vietnam War
This date is the first time that American troops had landed in Vietnam. This is after the US had already started bombing Vietnam and there was some US naval interaction as well. -
Tet Offensive Starts
The Vietcong and the Peoples Army of Vietnam attack South Vietnam. These groups targeted cities, government buildings and military bases. They even went to attack a US Embassy. These attacks lasted for months and finally ended in September. -
My Lai Massacre
After being sent on a search and destroy mission to a peaceful village, US soldiers open fire killing every man, woman and child that they could find. After the massacre, they destroyed the village and covered up the death of hundreds of people. -
President Nixon is sworn in
Richard Nixon is made president where he plans to gradually take US troops out of Vietnam. His presidency is cut short when he commits a crime and is caught lying about it to America. -
End of Vietnam War
The US finally withdraws from Vietnam. This is a major loss for America. The year after this, North and South Vietnam were unified into one country. On April 30th 1975, the last American soldiers were taken out of Vietnam.
