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The Viet Minh is founded
The Viet Minh was the League for the Independence of Vietnam that fought against the French, and later against the Japanese. -
Vietnam is occupied by Japan
Japanese take over French Indochina. Emperor Bao Dai renames the country to Vietnam. -
Japan surrenders to the Allied powers
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Korean peninsula is split.
The Soviet Union occupies the North while the United States keeps the South. -
North Korea crosses 38th parallel and invades South Korea
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The US joins the Korean War
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North Korea captures Seoul
North Korean troops capture South Korea's capital city. -
Battle of Osan
First battle between US forces and North Korean forces. America is defeated -
First shipload of U.S. arms aid to pro-French Vietnam arrives
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Battle of Inchon
Battle commanded by General Douglas MacArthur. Victory for South Korea, the United States and the United Nations. -
China joins Korean War
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US troops arrive at Pyongyang
Chinese soldiers had been crossing the Yalu River into Korean territory. -
Truman fires General MacArthur
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Eisenhower is elected
Former army general, Eisenhower wins by a landslide by building his campaign mainly on promising to end the Korean War. -
Korean War armistice
Armistice stops fighting and Korea remains divided. -
Dien Bien Phu falls
The battle of Dien Bien Phu ends and French Indochina falls to the Viet Minh forces and becomes North Vietnam and South Vietnam. -
Eight nations sign U.S.-sponsored SEATO treaty
The SEATO treaty (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization) is signed with the purpose to stop communism from gaining ground on the region. -
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
North Vietnamese attack two U.S. destroyers sitting in international waters -
First US troops arrive in Vietnam
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the battle of Ia Drang
First major engagement of the war between regular U.S. and North Vietnamese forces. -
President Nixon announced an agreement "to end the war and bring peace with honor in Vietnam and S.E. Asia.
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Paris Peace Accords are signed that provide a cease-fire.
The Paris Peace Accords ended direct U.S. military combat, and temporarily stopped the fighting between North and South Vietnam. -
Vietnam is unified as a communist country, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
