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Viet Minh overrun French fortress at Dien Bien Phu
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South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam, with newly elected Ngo Dinh Diem as President.
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North Vietnamese attack two U.S. destroyers sitting in international waters
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U.S. Congress passes a Gulf of Tonkin resolution
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The North Vietnamese join forces with join forces with the Viet Cong to launch the Tet Offensive, attacking approximately 100 South Vietnamese cities and towns. The Tet Offensive was the first "televised war", Americans could not believe what they were seeing.
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U.S. soldiers kill hundreds of Vietnamese civilians in the town of Mai Lai.
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U.S. troops in VIetnam reaches 540,000
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The American public learns of the Mai Lai Massacre
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President Nixon announces that U.S. troops will attack enemy locations in Cambodia.
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Portions of the pentagon papers are published in the New York Times.
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The North Vietnamese cross the demilitarized zone at the 17th parallel to attack South Vietnam which became known as the Easter Offensive.
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The last U.S. troops are withdrawn from Vietnam.
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North Vietnam launches a massive assault on South Vietnam.
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South Vietnam surrenders to the communists
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Vietnam is unified as a communist country, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
