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Creation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
North Vietnam declared their independence from France and became a socialist country also known as the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. They were supported by the Soviet Union and China. This Republic was led by Ho Chi Minh who embraced the communist ideologies and values onto Vietnam. -
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
Battle fought between the French Union and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The purpose of the French's operation in Dien Bien Phu was to cut off supply lines of Viet Minh into the Kingdom of Laos which was a French Ally. This was hoped to cripple Vietnam so that the French could have control over them again. -
Creation of the 17th parallel between North and South Vietnam
The 17th parallel is a military boundary line. It was created to establish communist rule in North Vietnam and a democratic rule in South Vietnam. This was a temporary division following the Geneva Conference when the French agreed to withdraw their troops from North Vietnam. -
Declaring of the Republic of Vietnam
The creation of the Republic of Vietnam was the government established in South Vietnam while the North Vietnamese were ruled by the socialist/communist government. The South Vietnamese leader was Catholic nationalist Ngo Dinh Diem who was an ally with the US. -
Establishment of the National Liberation Front
The Viet Cong was an armed communist organization led by North Vietnam that went into South Vietnam to attack and overthrow the South Vietnamese and US military and rule. It's main objective was to extend the communist ideologies in South Vietnam in an attempt make all of Vietnam communist. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident and Resolution
Gulf of Tonkin incited the war between the US and North Vietnam because it was reported that 2 US vessels were attacked unprovoked at the coast of Vietnam and Laos. This started the use of armed warfare between the North Vietnamese army and the US as stated in the Golf of Tonkin Resolution. -
US combat troops arrive in Vietnam
3,500 US Marines arrived in South Vietnam in Da Nang in order to protect the US airbases there from the Viet Cong soldier's attacks. -
Tet Offensive
80,000 Viet Cong soldiers of North Vietnam were sent to South Vietnam to surprise attack them. They targeted major metropolitan centers as well as the American base at Da Nang and the American embassy in Saigon. The purpose of the attack was to encourage the US to deploy from the war and also leave South Vietnam crippled. The US involvement in the Tet Offensive caused a major moral blow because many many lives of all parties were lost. -
My Lai Massacre
US Army 23rd Infantry was sent to the village of Mai Lai to attack the Viet Cong soldiers suspected in hiding there. No Viet Cong were found and hundreds of Mai Lai men, women and children were brutally murdered by US troops. This was known as one of the biggest atrocities of the Vietnam War. -
1968 Democratic National Convention
At the DNC of 1968 a protest anti-war supporters took place outside the convention. The police interfered with the protest and it became a riot with hundred of protesters injured by clubbing and tear gas. There was also a conflict inside the convention with delegates arguing and being divided because of their views on the war and how that was going to affect their war policies. -
1968 Presidential Election
Former Vice President, Republican nominee Richard Nixon was elected as the 46th President defeating Democratic nominee Hubert Humphrey. Nixon won because of his promise to end the US involvement in the Vietnam war and halt further destruction. He also won because he had gained trust from the North and South because of his support of their civil rights. -
Tinker v. Des Moines
Mary Beth Tinker was a junior high student that was suspended for wearing black wristbands in protest against the Vietnam war. But Tinker filed s lawsuit stating that is was against their 1st Amendment rights to ban the wrist bands. The court was in her favor and it was determined that students have the right to express their constitutional right to free speech as long as it doesn't disrupt the educational process and teachers and school officials don't have authority to take that right away. -
Woodstock
Massive concert held in Bethel, New York with an attendance of approximately 400,000 people. This concert was a very fun and exciting time with lots of "hippies" and drugs being consumed. This concert was a way for people to come together and escape the violence of the war in the form of music and art. -
Kent State University Protest
A peaceful anti- Vietnam war protest was going on at Kent State University protesting the bombing of Cambodia by the United states when the Ohio National Guard fired into the crowd killing four people and wounding nine unarmed Kent University students. -
Jackson State College Protest
Similar to the Kent State University Protest killings just 10 days earlier where students at Jackson State College were also protesting the Cambodia bombings. This protest also ended in 2 students being shot and killed and 12 injured by police. -
Pentagon Papers
The Pentagon Papers was a top secret document that contained the history of America's political involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967. These top secret documents were leaked the public and published by the New York Times which was not good a good thing for Nixon's reputation because it revealed the US true motive in Vietnam was not what the public thought it was. It also showed that Nixon planned to bomb North Vietnam even after claiming he was putting an end to the war. -
Watergate
Watergate was the name of the major scandal that speculated that Nixon had hired burglars to break into the Democratic National Committee building to steal private documents and plant recording devices in order for Nixon to be able to dig up dirt on his Democratic enemies therefore giving him an advantage with upcoming election. This scandal is what led Nixon to resign. -
1973 Paris Peace Accords
This peace treaty ended the involvement of the US in the Vietnam war. It claimed America had to withdrawal all US troops and allies from Vietnam within 60 days. It also put a ban on future US military involvement in South Vietnam. -
United States vs. Nixon
This was the Supreme Court case that ordered Nixon to deliver the tape recordings from the Democratic National Committee and other materials to the federal court. this case provided a crucial precedent limiting the power of any US president to claim executive privilege. -
Fall of Saigon
Following the US' withdrawal from South Vietnam resulted in the capital of South Vietnam, Saigon, falling to North Vietnamese communism which effectively ended the war. This also led to thousands of South Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees resettling in the United States.