Lesson 1: Going to War in Vietnam

By 26mwalton

  • Ho Chi Minh founds the Indochinese Communist Party at a meeting in Hong Kong.

    Meeting in Hong Kong in May 1929, members of the Thanh Nien decided to form the Indochinese Communist Party. Others in the Vietnamese cities of Hanoi, Hue, and Saigon began the actual work of organization,
  • Japan invaded Vietnam

    Japan invaded Vietnam

    The Japanese invasion of French Indochina was a short undeclared military confrontation between Japan and France in northern French Indochina.
  • Japan surrendered to the allies and gave up control of Indochina.

    Japan surrendered to the allies and gave up control of Indochina.

    The Japanese invasion of French Indochina was a short undeclared military confrontation between Japan and France in northern French Indochina.
  • French troops returned to Vietnam and drove the Vietminh into hiding.

    French troops returned to Vietnam and drove the Vietminh into hiding.

    French troops returned to Vietnam in 1946 and drove the Vietminh into hiding. The Vietminh fought back against the French dominated regime and slowly gained control of large areas of the country.
  • Dutch gave up their empire in Indonesia and supported the British decision to give India independence.

    Dutch gave up their empire in Indonesia and supported the British decision to give India independence.

    Dutch government consented to Indonesian independence under pressure of the US as Washington threatened to cut off Marshall Aid to the Netherlands.
  • The french forces fell to the Vietminh supply lines and force them into open battle.

    The french forces fell to the Vietminh supply lines and force them into open battle.

    The Viet Minh began fighting against the French in 1946 in what became known as the First Indochina War.

  • South Vietnam begins Strategic Hamlest Plan.

    The South Vietnamese government concluded that one of the best ways to defeat the Vietcong was a policy of moving the peasants into armed hamlets called "strategic hamlets." The policy was resented by the people it was designed to help and was a failure.
  • U.S ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge arrived in Vietnam

    U.S ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge arrived in Vietnam

    Kennedy appointed Lodge to the position of Ambassador to South Vietnam, which he held from 1963 to 1964.

  • US Senate Approves Tonkin Gulf Resolution

    The United States Senate approves the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, authorizing the President to "take all necessary measures" to repel attacks against US forces and to "prevent further aggression" in the area. The Resolution provides President Johnson with a blank check to take whatever action he deems appropriate in South Vietnam. It is the only congressional action, other than approving military funding, ever taken during the Vietnam War to authorize American actions during the war.

  • Declaration of Neutrality of Laos Signed in Geneva

    An agreement was signed in Geneva for the reestablishment of Laotian neutrality. The terms of the agreement called for Prince Souvanna Phoumato be reinstated as Premier of Laos. The agreement agreed to by the U.S. and the Soviet Union temporarily ended civil war in Laos.