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    France invades Vietnam and makes Vietnam a colony.

    France invades Vietnam and makes Vietnam a colony.
    France invades Vietnam and makes Vietnam a colony.
  • Ho Chi Minh helps found the Indochinese Communist Party.

  • Japan invades Vietnam.

    Japan invades Vietnam.
  • Ho Chi Minh establishes the Viet Minh

  • Ho Chi Minh declares an independent Vietnam, called the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

  • The Viet Minh receive military advisors and weapons from China.

     The Viet Minh receive military advisors and weapons from China.
  • The United States pledges $15 million worth of military aid to France to help them fight in Vietnam.

  • The French suffer a decisive defeat at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.

    The French suffer a decisive defeat at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.
  • The Geneva Accords creates a cease-fire for the peaceful withdrawal of the French from Vietnam and provides a temporary boundary between North and South Vietnam at the 17th parallel.

  • South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam, with newly elected Ngo Dinh Diem as president.

  • The National Liberation Front (NLF), also called the Viet Cong, is established in South Vietnam.

  • South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem is executed during a coup.

    South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem is executed during a coup.
  • North Vietnamese attack two U.S. destroyers sitting in international waters

  • n response to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, the U.S. Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.

  • A sustained U.S. aerial bombing campaign of North Vietnam begins

     A sustained U.S. aerial bombing campaign of North Vietnam begins
  • The first U.S. combat troops arrive in Vietnam.

  • The North Vietnamese join forces with the Viet Cong to launch the Tet Offensive, attacking approximately one hundred South Vietnamese cities and towns.

  • U.S. soldiers kill hundreds of Vietnamese civilians in the town of Mai Lai.

    U.S. soldiers kill hundreds of Vietnamese civilians in the town of Mai Lai.
  • General William Westmoreland, who had been in charge of the U.S. troops in Vietnam, is replaced by General Creighton Abrams.

  • President Nixon orders the first of many U.S. troop withdrawals from Vietnam.

  • U.S. troops in Vietnam reaches 540,000.

  • Communist revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh dies at age 79.

    Communist revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh dies at age 79.
  • The American public learns of the Mai Lai massacre.

  • President Nixon announces that U.S. troops will attack enemy locations in Cambodia. This news sparks nationwide protests, especially on college campuses.

  • President Nixon announces that U.S. troops will attack enemy locations in Cambodia. This news sparks nationwide protests, especially on college campuses.

     President Nixon announces that U.S. troops will attack enemy locations in Cambodia. This news sparks nationwide protests, especially on college campuses.
  • The North Vietnamese cross the demilitarized zone (DMZ) at the 17th parallel to attack South Vietnam in what became known as the Easter Offensive.

  • The Paris Peace Accords are signed that provide a cease-fire.

  • The last U.S. troops are withdrawn from Vietnam.March 1975 - North Vietnam launches a massive assault on South Vietnam.

  • The last U.S. troops are withdrawn from Vietnam.March 1975 - North Vietnam launches a massive assault on South Vietnam.

    The last U.S. troops are withdrawn from Vietnam.March 1975 - North Vietnam launches a massive assault on South Vietnam.
  • ietnam is unified as a communist country, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

  • The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. is dedicated.

  • The Viet Minh receive military advisors and weapons from China.