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Vietnam War
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Nixon Encourages US Troop Intervention
Vice President Richard Nixon explains that "if to avoid further Communist expansion in Asia and Indochina we must take the risk now of putting our boys in, I think the Executive has to take the politically unpopular decision and do it." This was one of the first statements about the US aiding in the Vietnam War. -
Ho Chi Minh Land Reforms
Ho Chi Minh orders land reforms over North Vietnam. Wealthy farmers and cloassified land owners are stripped of their belongings, imprisoned, totured and even executed. Many families flee to South Vietnam. More awareness is made due to the cruelty happening in Vietnam. More support is raised to send troops. -
Eisenhower is Reelected
Dwight D. Eisenhower is Reelected as President of the US for a second term. Eisenhower became the US key player for the beginning of the War. -
Guerilla Warfare Begins
With Ho Chi Minh's aid, Ex-Viet Minh forces organize and use guerilla warfare against Diem. Guerilla warfare was very successful and increased US motivation to retaliate. -
The First American Dies
Viet Minh guerilla soldiers raid Bien Hoa in South Vietnam killing two American military adivors. These are the first non combat American deaths recorded in the Vietnam War. This was the final push to get the US to fight back. -
Kenneday Elected
John F. Kennedy defeats Richard M. Nixon and becomes the 35th President of the United States. Kennedy was very influential in the Vietnam War and his decisions directly affected the aftermath of the War. -
Diem Overthrown
South Vietnamese General Duong Van Minh overthrows the Diem regime and orders the execution of Diem and his brother, with US encouragement. United States recognizes General Minh's rule. -
First North Vietnam Bombing
The USS Maddox reports several assaults by North Vietnamese gunboats.President Johnson orders the U.S. to drop bombs on North Vietnam for the first time. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
President Johnson authorizes Operation Rolling Thunder is reponse to attacks on the US Air Force base in Pleiku, South Vietnam. The operation was meant to cripple North Vietnams transportation system and its industrial centers. -
King Speaks Against Vietnam War
Matirn Luther King, Jr. leads thousands of people to the United Nations building in New York, delivering a speak against US foreign policy in Vietnam. This gave motivation to protesters against participating in the Vietnam War and lead to future rally's. -
Johnson Looks for a way out of Vietnam
President Johson meets with his military adivsors who urge him to back out of Vietnam. President Johnson states in a nationwide television broadcast, "We are prepared to move immediately toward peace through negotiations. So tonight, in the hope that this action will lead to early talks, I am taking the first step to deescalate the conflict." He then declines his reelcetion. -
Congress Votes to Withdrawal Troops
Both the House and the Senate vote to withdrawal all US troops in Vietnam by the years end. This event marked the end of the Vietnam War and protesters began to back off. -
Vietnam War Officially Ends
The last US combat soldier leaves Vietnam and the Vietnam War officially ends for the United States. Over 3 million Americans served in the war, almost 60,000 dead, 150,000 wounded and 1,500 missing in action. -
Congress Prohibits US Intervention
Either there there is fresh battles occuring between the NLF and the South Vietnamese, the US Congress votes to prohibit any further US combat role in Vietnam. This even fortified the US's withdrawal from Vietnam. -
Saigon Falls
North Vietnamese take Saigon; the war in Vietnam is over. There is no chance for the US to re-enter a War that is over.
