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Vietnam declares independence
Ho Chi Minh made the announcement. The Declaration stated that "All men are created equal," Ho ended his speech with words that might have stirred the hearts of the original American patriots. -
US military aid to French Indochina
French refused to accept Vietnamese independence and sent troops to drove the rebels out the southern city of Saigon. French warships killed 6,000 Vietnamese civilians. President Truman called for an increase in military aid to French Indochina. By 1954, the United States was paying 80% of the cost in Indochina. -
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The war began in March. French military base Dien Bien Phu was attacked by the Viet Minh. The Viet Minh overran the French base. The French pulled out of northern Vietnam. -
Geneva accords
Vietnam wanted France to leave the country.
France signed the Geneva Accords with the Viet Minh. The agreement split Vietnam along the 17th parallel. Also scheduled an election to reunify Vietnam in 1956. -
Gulf of Tokin Resolution
This allowed the president to take necessary actions to repel any attack against the forces of the United States. It also gave president premission to expand the U.S. role in the conflict. -
Gulf of Tonkin incident
The United States observated the radar sites.
In response to the United States, they fired machine guns and torpedoes at U.S. destroyer. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
The Feburary Bombing raid led to a series of air strikes. President's advisors believed that this action was necessary. -
Dove argue against Hawk
People who advocate to negotiate and compromise. They argued that the United States has nothing to do in someone else's war. -
Troops arrive in Vietnam
60,000 more combat troops were dispatched to Vietnam. In July, it increased to 125,000 men.It seemed like the United States was ready for a full scale war. -
American war
The conflict in Vietnam changed because of the landing of the first combat force. The United States had the full control of the war. South Vietnam played only a support role. The war was no longer South Vietnam's, it was the American's. -
Hawks argue for involvement
People who thought that it was necessary to get invovled. They thought that it was the only way to contain communism. -
Operation Starlite
A battle between the United States and Viet Cong. America won the battle eventually. In this battle, more than 600 Viet Cong were killed, while 45 U.S. soldiers were killed.