-
President Eisenhower refuses to commit American troops to the Franco-Vietnamese War. In a press conference he states, "I cannot conceive of a greater tragedy for America than to get heavily involved now in an all-out war in any of those regions."
-
n a speech before the press, 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."
-
The French suffer a decisive defeat at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.
-
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.
-
American pilots assist in helping South Vietnam in a mission against Saigon this is the first time the US will participate in any sort of combat against he Vietcong.
-
Vietcong forces ambush the south Vietnamese at their army's 7th division this leads to almost 400 wounded or killed south vietnamese soldiers and 3 American advisors are killed.
-
North Vietnamese attack two U.S. destroyers sitting in international waters (the Gulf of Tonkin Incident). In response to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, the U.S. Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
-
A sustained U.S. aerial bombing campaign of North Vietnam begins (Operation Rolling Thunder).
-
U.S. troops in Vietnam reaches 540,000.
-
President Nixon announces that U.S. troops will attack enemy locations in Cambodia. This news sparks nationwide protests, especially on college campuses.
-
The North Vietnamese cross the demilitarized zone (DMZ) at the 17th parallel to attack South Vietnam in what became known as the Easter Offensive.
-
The Paris Peace Accords are signed that provide a cease-fire.
-
March 1975 - North Vietnam launches a massive assault on South Vietnam.
-
South Vietnam surrenders to the communists.
-
Vietnam is unified as a communist country, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
