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On September 2, 1945, the same day that japan formally surrendered to the allies, Vietnam declared its independence. Ho Chi Minh made the announcement.
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In November 1946, French warships opened fire on the port city of Haiphong, killing about 6,000 Vietnamese civilians.
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The following month of the open fire of Haiphong,Viet Minh attacked french ground forces. These two incidents marked the start of the first Idochina War which continued for 8 years.
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Viet Minh launched a suprise attack on a french military base at Dien Bien Phu, in the mountains of northern Vietnam.
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In July 1954,The French and Viet Minh signed the Geneva Accords. Under this agreement, the fighting stopped, and Vietnam was split temporarily along the 17th parallel. The Viet Minh moved north of that line while the french withdrew to the south.
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On may 7, 1954,Viet Minh finally overran the French base, ending the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.
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In 1955,the united states used its infuence to put an anticommunist south Vietnamese leader, Ngo Dinh Dien,in charge. Diem began building an army.
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In October 1955,he declared himself president of South Vietnam. He began returning land to wealthy landlords and drafting young men into his army. He ruthlessly attacked opponents and jailed thousands without trial or charging them with a crime.
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In 1960,Viet Minh formed a group called the National Liberation Front and invited all opponents of Diem to join.
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Kennedy wins the precidency in 1961.