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Ho Chi Minh returned from several years of exile in the Soviet Union and China after the Japanese had seized control of the country. He created the Vietminh which was made up of communists and non-communists to fight the Japanese.
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After Japan surrendered to the allies, Ho Chi Minh declared independence for Vietnam, but the French returned to their former colony and drove the Vietminh into hiding. -
The French seized Dien Bien Phu in an attempt to cut off the Vietminh's supply lines. The Vietminh surrounded and bombarded the town, and the French were defeated. -
In order to prevent the much more popular Minh from getting power, Diem doesn’t allow the elections called for in the Geneva accords.
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Diems unpopularity with the people allowed the Vietcong to gain control over much of the countryside and expand their influence.
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Diem banned the display of any flag other than the national flag on the anniversary of the Buddha's birthday. -
The United States supported military leaders in overthrowing Diem, because his policies were making the American and Vietnamese dislike the south.
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Johnson announced that North Vietnamese torpedo boats had fired on two U.S. destroyers in the Golf of Tonkin. This lead to the passage of the Golf of Tonkin resolution, giving the president the power to fight the Vietnamese. -
The Gulf of Tonkin resolution gives the president the power to "take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression".
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President Johnson orders a sustained bombing campaign and sends the first combat troops to Vietnam.