-
Japan invades Indochina (Vietnam)
During WWII, Japan invades Indochina.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Indochina_in_World_War_II#1940 -
Ho Chi Minh forms Viet Minh
Viet Minh formed to fight against Japan and French Control of Vietnam. It was also called The League for the Independence of Vietnam. (Unsure of actual date, just that it was May) http://www.britannica.com/topic/Viet-Minh -
Independent Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam independence from France. Japan surrenders, ending WWII http://history1900s.about.com/od/vietnamwar/a/vietnamtimeline.htm
http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history -
French Defeated by Viet Minh
The French rule of Vietnam ended in May 1954 during the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. http://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Dien-Bien-Phu -
Geneva Accord
A cease-fire was signed and France agreed to withdraw their troops. The Geneva Accords officially divided North Vietnam (under Ho Chi Minh) from South Vietnam (under Bao Dai) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_Agreements -
Ngo Dinh Diem
Diem appoints himself president of South Vietnam https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngo_Dinh_Diem -
Ho Chi Minh Trail
Beginnings of a secret network of trails (16,000 kilometer web of tracks, roads and waterways) used to transport weapons, materials and soldiers to the south. http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1875.html -
John F Kennedy Elected
John F. Kennedy beats Richard Nixon for U.S. Presidency https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1960 -
Kennedy Assassination
Future of the Vietnam war was in Lyndon Johnson's Hands http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/vietnam/timeline.htm -
Gulf of Tonkin
Also known as the USS Maddox incident, North Vietnam attacked US forces in the Gulf of Tonkin. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Tonkin_incident -
Period: to
Agent Orange
11 to 13 million gallons if this toxic mixture of herbicides was sprayed in Vietnam between January 1965 to April 1970. http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/agent-orange -
First U.S. Combat Troops
American Marine troops on land at China Beach north of Da Nang. There had already been limited Naval involvement. http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2013/03/few-will-remember-u-s-entered-vietnam-war-48-years-ago-today.html/ -
Tet Offensive
70,000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces attacked over 100 cities and town in South Vietnam in hopes of discouraging the U.S. from continuing to defend South Vietnam. http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/tet-offensive -
Last U.S. Troops Leave
The last of the American troops return home and for us the war was over. http://www.britannica.com/event/Vietnam-War/De-escalation-negotiation-and-Vietnamization#toc234638 -
DRV Forces Capture Saigon
Fighting continues between North and South Vietnam until 1975. The North proves unstoppable and takes over Saigon, renaming it Ho Chi Minh City. http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history -
Aftermath
American casualties of the Vietnam war added up to 58,220. Around 150,000 were injured and 21,000 more had been disabled. The billions of dollars spent during the war led to inflation, and a worldwide oil crisis led to extremely high gas prices. Veterans were looked down upon by supporters and opposers, and America was no longer thought of as invincible. http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history
http://www.archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war/casualty-statistics.html -
Merging
North and South Vietnam merge to create the Socialist Republic of Vietnam https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War#Aftermath
