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The first Indochina War begins
The First Indochina War begins, as the Viet Minh begin fighting against French colonial rule. -
The Viet Minh defeat the French Army
The Viet Minh defeat the French army in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, forcing the surrender of most of the occupying troops. On July 21, France signs the Geneva Accord, a cease-fire that leads to the peaceful withdrawal of French troops from Southeast Asia. -
Communist guerillas begin an insurgency in South Vietnam
Communist guerillas begin an insurgency in South Vietnam, assassinating more than 400 South Vietnamese officials. -
The North Vietnams attack 2 U.S. War ships
On August 2 three North Vietnamese boats allegedly fire torpedoes at the U.S.S. Maddox, a destroyer located in the international waters of the Tonkin Gulf. Another attack made Congress pass the Gulf Tonkin Pesolution, allowing the president to go to war in Vietnam. -
U.S. begins massive bombing effort in North Vietnam
U.S. forces start operation Rolling Thunder, that will be bombing Vietnam fior 3 years. -
U.S. launches Operation Cedar Falls
Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara calls the bombing campaign ineffective. The U.S. launches Operation Cedar Falls, a ground war effort involving 30,000 U.S. and South Vietnamese troops to destroy Vietcong operations and supply sites near Saigon. -
North Vietnamese and Vietcong launch assult on South Vietnam Towns
In January, on the Vietnamese lunar new year (Tet), the North Vietnamese and Vietcong forces launch an attack on one hundred South Vietnamese cities and towns. Within days, U.S. forces recapture most areas. -
President Nixon approves "Operation Breakfast"
President Nixon approves “Operation Breakfast,” covert bombing of Communist supply routes and base camps in Cambodia. The bombing continues for 14 months without knowledge of Congress or the American public. -
Nixon announces that U.S. troops will attack enemy locations in Cambodia.
In May, Ohio National Guardsmen open fire on a crowd of student protesters at Kent State University, killing four students and wounding eight others. Several of the protesters had been hurling rocks and empty tear gas canisters at the Guardsmen. -
The North Vietnamese cross the DMZ
The North Vietnamese cross the demilitarized zone (DMZ) at the 17th parallel to attack South Vietnam in what will be known as the Easter Offensive. -
U.S. withdrawal from the Vietnam War
On January 27, U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Vietcong leader Le Duc Tho sign the Paris Peace Accords, an immediate cease-fire that will allow for U.S. withdrawal. -
South Vietnam surrenders to Communism
North Vietnam launches a massive assault on South Vietnam. President Gerald Ford announces that for the U.S., the Vietnam War is “finished.” On April 30, South Vietnam surrenders to Communist forces, and the last Americans evacuate Saigon.
