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The Founding of the Vietminh
The Vietminh were founded by Ho Chi Minh in 1941. With Japan in control of Vietnam, the Vietminh united communists and non-communists to fight the Japanese. However, after Vietnam defeated the Japanese, the Vietminh found themselves at war with France. The Vietminh eventually defeated the French and signed the Geneva Accords, dividing Vietnam in half. -
Vietnam Declares Independence
A few hours after the end of WWII, Vietnam declared themselves independent from France. Vietnam even wrote a declaration of independence very similar to that of the United States. However, France didn't recognized Vietnam's independence. The United States supported France on this issure because they feared that if Vietnam was an independent nation, it would fall to communism. -
The Geneva Conference
The Geneva Conference was held in Geneva, Switzerland in 1954. Among the many topics that were disscussed, the confrence temporarily divided Vietnam into two seperate countries along the 17th parallel. This division was suppost to end in 1956 with an election of a single government, but the South Vietnam leader refused and created tention between the two nations. -
Diem declares himself Premier of the Republic of Vietnam
Diem was first declared Premier by Bao Dai, the temporary leader of South Vietnam, put there by the French. By 1955 however, Diem renounced Bao and he declaered himself Premier. Diem even held an election for the people to vote him into office. While Diem did become the Premier, his election found out to be riged, with Diem winning over 90% of the votes. -
The National Front for the Liberation of the South
The National Front for the Liberation of the South, or NLF, was created by North Vietnam at a confrence in the south. The organization was created to duplicate the success of the Vietminh. The NLF reached out to parts of South Vietnam who were unhappy with President Ngo Dinh Diem. The group also formed an army that would destroty American bases in South Vietnam. -
President Ngo Dinh Diem is executed
During a coup in South Vietnam, President Ngo Dihn Diem and his brother were captured by a group of North Vietnam soldiers and killed. This caused a lot of celebration in both North and South Vietnam, but it threw South Vietnam into chao. -
Tonkin Resolution
The Tonkin Resolution gave the president power to repel any armed attacks against the U.S. and prevent further aggression. In this act, Congress gave the President the power to wage war in Vietnam. -
The U.S. sends troops into Vietnam
A U.S. Marine Corps Hawk air defence missile battalion were deployed in Da Nang. These were the first American combat troops that were deployed in Vietnam. China and Russia both threatened the U.S. because of this military move, but Great Britain and Australia supported the U.S. while France called for negotiations. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Operation Rolling Thunder was the code name for a bombing campain in North Vietnam. This strike was the first U.S. strike on North Vietnamese terrtiroy and defined the U.S.'s involment in the Vietnam war. The air attacks started as a responce to North Vietnam striking U.S. warships, but it quickly expanded into full scale attacks on North Vietnam. -
The Tet Offensive
The Tet offensive was a gorrilla warfare attack that North Vietnam launched on South Vietnam during Tet, the Vietnamese new year. This attack was a huge surprize to the south and cost them most of the American air bases. The north also attacked South Vietnam's more populated cities. -
Mai Lai Massacre
The Mai Lai Massacre took place on March 16, 1968 when a platoon of American soldiers killed between 200-500 unarmed South Vietnam citizens. The platoon was told that the village might be an area harboring Viet Cong, however,once the platoon got there, the village was full of women, children, and old men. Still the American soldiers rape, tortured and excuted the villagers. This massacre went unpunished until March of 1970, when only the captain was charged with a reduced sentence. -
Vietnamization
Vietnamization was the gradual withdraw of U.S. troops from South Vietnam while Southern Vietnam troops assumed more of the fighting. While the U.S. hoped South Vietnamese troops would continue to fight, South Vietnam was quickly defeated after the U.S. left. -
U.S. withdrawls of Troops
The U.S. first withdrew troops on July 7, 1969. 815 soldiers were withdrawn from Saigon. They were the first of 25,000 troops that were evacuated. -
Ho Chi Minh Dies
Ho Chi Minh died of a heart attack in 1969. Even after his death, he was a chief icon for communism and was honor through out both Noth and South Vietnam. -
Kent State Shooting
When the U.S. invaded Cambodia, the students at Kent state started a protest. The National Guard was called in to calm the protest. However, the National Guard open fired on the demonstrators without an order. The Guard killed 4 students and wounded 9 others. -
The 26th Amendment
The 26th amendment changed the federal voting age from 21 to 18. This issure intensified during the Vietnam war as many 18 year olds were being drafted into the war. The nation's youth felt that if they were old enough to fight, then they were old enough to vote. This law was sent to the government many times before it became offical in July of 1971. -
Easter Offensive
Once most U.S. troops were out of South Vietnam, the North Vietnam Army launched a three part offensive into South Vietnam. The army used heavy tanks and mobile units to invade. The U.S. air force was able to stop the army from advancing, but after the invasion, North Vietnam controlled most of South Vietnam near the demilitarized zone. -
Paris Peace Accords
The Paris Peace Accords was signed by the U.S., South Vietnam, and North Vietnam on January 27, 1973. These accords called a cease fire in Vietnam. In addition, the U.S. had to remove all their troops and demilitarize their bases within 60 days. The Accords also kept the demilitarized zone at the 17th parallel and recognized both North and South Vietnam as to separate nations. -
War Powers Act
The War Powers Act was passed after the Vietnam war. Its purpose was to limit the power the president had to send American troops into combat. The act only allows the president to send troops into areas of immient threats for 60 days without Congres's aprovel. The president can extend the deploment for 30 days, making a total of 90 days. -
South Vietnam Surrenders
Once American troops were withdrawn from South Vietnam, the north began attacking the major cities of South Vietnam. Despite their promises, the U.S. didn't intervene. The north quickly defeated all of South Vietnam's troops. When North Vietnamese soliders invaded the presidental palace, the south surrendered.
