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Military advisors and weapons in China
The Viet Minh receive military advisors and weapons from China. -
United states pledges $15 million.
The United States pledges $15 million worth of military aid to France to help them fight in Vietnam. -
The french suffer a defeat
The French suffer a decisive defeat at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. -
Cease fire
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
South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam, with newly elected Ngo Dinh Diem as president. -
Viet Cong is established
The National Liberation Front (NLF), also called the Viet Cong, is established in South Vietnam. -
South Vietnamese preseident is executed
South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem is executed during a coup. -
North Vietnamese attack
North Vietnamese attack two U.S. destroyers sitting in international waters (the Gulf of Tonkin Incident). -
THe U.S. Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
In response to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, the U.S. Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. -
U.S. aerial bombing from the North Vietnam begins
A sustained U.S. aerial bombing campaign of North Vietnam begins (Operation Rolling Thunder). -
U.S. troops come to Vietnam
The first U.S. troops come to Vietnam. -
U.S. troops in Vietnam reaches 540,000
U.S. troops in Vietnam reaches 540,000.