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Creation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
Was founded by Ho Chi Minh. He announced independence from French Colonial Rule. The DRV commenced a "correction campaign" in 1958 which helped return land to people who'd lost it. -
Creation of the 17th Parallel
This was created by the Geneva Accords. It was a temporary military separation line. It established a communist government in the north, and a democratic government in the south. The north was ruled by Ho Chi Minh and the south was led by emperor Bao Dai. -
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Battle of Dien Bien Phu
Was a Vietnamese Military Victory. It ended French Colonial Rule in Vietnam. This battle brought the separation of Vietnam into North Vietnam and South Vietnam. In May the US had refused to intervene so the Dien Bien Phu went to the Communists. -
Establishment of the National Liberation Front
This organization formed to effect the overthrow of the South Vietnamese government and the reunification of North and South Vietnam. It was created by Viet Cong. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
The North Vietnamese warships attacked US warships. They were called the U.S.S. Maddox and the U.S.S.C. Turner Joy. They attacked these ships 2 separate times. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
A resolution passed by Congress in 1964 that authorized LBJ to take any measures he deemed necessary to retaliate. Through this LBJ was also able to promote the maintenance of international peace/security in Southeast Asia. This Resolution gave LBJ a lot of power over the military to help defend Southeast Asia. -
Tinker v. Des Moines
A group of students in Des Moines held a meeting in Christopher Eckhardt to plan to show their support of the Vietnam Truce. They chose to wear black armbands through the holiday season AND fast on December 16th and New Years Eve. One day Marybeth Tinker and Christopher Eckhardt wore their armbands to school and were sent home and the next day John Tinker did the same thing with the same result. The students sued the school district for violating student expression right. Court dismissed it. -
US Combat Troops Arrive in Vietnam
LBJ launches a 3 year operation rolling thunder campaign. This campaign sustained bombing in in North Vietnam. During the same month as Operation Rolling Thunder Launches, US Marines land on the beach near Da Nang, South Vietnam. They were the first troops to enter Vietnam. -
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Operation Rolling Thunder
A bombing campaign. The US Air Force and Navy Aircraft engaged in this campaign. It was designed to force Ho Chi Minh to abandon his ambition to take over South Vietnam. It pressured Communist leaders to end their aggression. -
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Tet Offensive
Around 50,000 Communist Troops died in an effort to gain control over the southern portion of Vietnam. This was a coordinated series of North Vietnamese attacks. They attacked over 100 cities/outposts. This was to provoke rebellion among South Vietnam. -
My Lai Massacre
A horrific incident of violence. American soldiers were brutally killed women, kids, and old men in the village of My Lai. There was over 500 people that were slaughtered. Young women and girls were raped and butchered before being killed. The US covered this up for 1 year before being reported to the press. -
1968 Democratic National Convention
Thousands of Vietnam War protesters battled the police in the street. The Democratic party fell apart over an internal disagreement concerning their stance on the Vietnam War. This happened in Chicago. After more than 48 hours of rioting 11 Chicago citizens were left dead and 48 were wounded by the police gunfire. 90 policemen were injured and 2,150 people were arrested. -
1968 Presidential Election
Former VP Richard Nixon beat Democratic VP Hubert Humphrey. Nixon won by 1 point. This was the end of the New Deal Coalition. -
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Woodstock 1969
It took place in Bethel New York. This was a festival that was meant to last 3 days, but bad weather and traffic jams caused delays. This festival was an opportunity for people to escape into music and spread the good message of unity and peace. -
Kent State University Protest
Some members of the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of Kent State University demonstrators. They killed 4 students and wounded 9. These students were protesting the bombing of Cambodia by US Military forces. This shooting became the focal point of the Nation becoming deeply divided by the Vietnam War. -
Jackson State College Protest
Presently after midnight, police officers from the all-white Mississippi Highway/Safety Patrol and the mainly white Jackson police force opened fire on students in front of the Women's dorm at the college. This is an HBCU. It was also referred to as "Kent State II." -
Pentagon Papers
These papers revealed that the US expanded the war with bombing Cambodia and Laos. The pentagon papers were the study of the origins and development of the Vietnam War. Daniel Ellsberg leaked these papers. These papers also revealed that 4 consecutive presidents lied about America's involvement in Vietnam. -
Watergate
Burglars were arrested in the office of the DNC at the Watergate Complex. The robbers were connected to Nixon's reelection campaign. The intruders had been caught wiretapping phones and stealing documents. Nixon took advancing steps to cover everything up, but some reporters from the Washington Post uncovered what Nixon had tried to cover up Nixon resigned. -
1973 Paris Peace Accords
These accords ended direct combat role of the US in the Vietnam War. The accords were signed after 4 years of negotiation. Their intention? To establish peace in Vietnam at the end of the war. They were signed by the US, and North and South Vietnam. -
US v. Nixon
Decided on July, 24 1974 the court unanimously voted against Nixon. Chief Justice Warren Burger said the President didn't have an absolute, unqualified privilege to withhold information. This was considered a crucial example, limiting the power of any US president to claim executive privilege. -
Fall of Saigon
The South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to the North's Army. This ended the Vietnam War successfully. For the US it symbolized the war's ineffectiveness. President Gerald Ford ordered all US troops and citizens out of the country.