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Domino Theory
The domino theory basis came from the Korean War because the United States learned that communism was becoming more of a threat in other countries outside of Europe. They were worried that it would end up spreading through all of South East Asia if it took over South Vietnam. -
Dien Bien Phu
The battle of Den Bien Phu occurred between march and may of the year 1954. Between the French Union and the Viet Minh, it took place in Dien Bien Phu in north Vietnam. It was a very bloody and violent battle between the two and shortly after France agreed to a cease fire with Viet Minh. The French failed miserably and at the end of it the Viet Minh had captured almost 12,000 soldiers. -
Geneva Conference
The United States, Soviet Union, France and the United Kingdom came together to talk about issues with the Korean Pennisula. During this conference they decided to divide Vietnam along the 17th parallel. -
Ho Chi Minh
Nikita Khrushchev pledges support for "wars of national liberation" throughout the world. His statement greatly encourages Communists in North Vietnam to escalate their armed struggle to unify Vietnam under Ho Chi Minh. -
Viet Cong
26,000 Viet Cong launch several successful attacks on South Vietnamese troops. Diem then requests more military aid from the Kennedy administration -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
This resolution gave the President the authorization to take all of the nessesary precautions when the United States's armed forces were being attacked. The Senate and House passed this resolution. -
Viet Cong Terrorists
set off a car bomb explosion at the Brinks Hotel, an American officers' residence in downtown Saigon. The bomb is timed to detonate at 5:45 p.m., during 'happy hour' in the bar. Two Americans are killed and 58 wounded. President Johnson dismisses all recommendations for a retaliatory air strike against North Vietnam. -
Agent Orange, Napalm
Napalm was first used in flamethrowers for U.S. ground troops; they burned down sections of forest and bushes in hopes of eliminating any enemy guerrilla fighters. Later on in the war B-52 Bombers began dropping napalm bombs and other incendiary explosives. Air raids that used napalm were much more devastating than flamethrowers; a single bomb was capable of destroying areas up to 2,500 square yards. Throughout the duration of the war, 1965 – 1973, eight million tons of bombs were dropped over V -
Operation Rolling Thunder
President Johnson decided to increase American involvement by changing his policy to a continuous bombing of North Vietnam. -
Vietnamization
President Nixon had decided that there were too many American troops in South Vietnam and it would result in the ultimate fate of South Vietnam. He then took out troops and made it so they didn't have so many troops in Vietnam. -
The Tet Offensive
The guerrilla fighters had started attacking US airbases. They also attacked South Vietnam cities and capitals. -
Withdrawing US Troops
President Nixon stated to the public that he was withdrawing about 25,000 troops. He also stated that taking these troops was not a form of surrendering. -
Invasion of Cambodia
On April 30th of 1970, President Richard Nixon declared to a television audience that the American military troops, accompanied by the South Vietnamese People's Army, were to invade Cambodia. The invasion was under the pretext of disrupting the North Vietnamese supply lines. They also invaded in order to bomb and destroy the Viet Cong base camps, that were backing up the other operations in South Vietnam. -
Kent State Massacre
The Ohio National Guard soldiers fired on protestors with out any order to do so. They used tear gas and rifles. They killed four students and wounded nine. -
Henry Kissinger Negotiations
The Signing of the Paris Peace Agreements in October 1970 the idea of having a Peace Agreement was established in Paris, France. National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger had been secretly meeting with the North Vietnamese Communist negotiator, Le Duc Tho, outside of Paris to discuss the outcomes of the potential end of war. -
26th Amendment
The 26th amendment was passed. This allowed people over the age of 18 to vote. This was driven in large part by the broader student activism movement protesting the Vietnam War. -
War Powers Act
Congress limited the Presidents power by creating the War Powers Act. This act only allows troops to be deployed if Congress gives the OK. -
South Vietnam Surrenders
North Vietnam took over Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, and reconnected North and South Vietnam under a communistic rule. They renamed Saigon to Ho Chi MInh City. -
Fall of Saigon
The capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, by the People's Army of Vietnam and the National Liberation Front. -
Socialist Republic of Vietnam Claimed
Vietnam government was completely controlled by the Communistic North. On the 2nd of July 1976 the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was renamed the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, with the city of Hanoi as the capital.
