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Eisenhower Explains His "Domino Theory"
Eisenhower claimed “You have broader considerations that might follow what you would call the ‘falling domino’ principle." His theory was that if Vietnam fell to communism then all the rest of Asia would as well then they would take over everyone else. (https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/eisenhower-gives-famous-domino-theory-speech) -
Dien Bein Phu is Overrun by the Viet Minh
The Vietnamese cut all the roads into Dien Bien Phu, making it suppliable only by air, they were trying to keep their country safe and from being taken over. They then taken by surprise when the Viet Minh Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap surrounded the base with 40,000 men and used heavy artillery to break the French lines. Despite heavy U.S. aid, the base was overrun on May 7, 1954. -
American's Involvement in Vietnam Begins
President Eisenhower noticed that Vietnam had split of into two sections the North (communists) and the South (democracy). He sent some troops over to Vietnam to go and support the South and continue the fight to keep communism from taking over. -
Ngo Dinh Diem Refuses to Take Part in Elections
South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem’s position regarding his refusal to hold “national and general elections” to reunify the two Vietnam states. -
Vietcong Begin Attacks on the Diem Government
By 1957, the communists, now called the Viet Cong, had begun a program of terrorism and assassination against government officials and functionaries. -
SDS Founded
Founded in 1959, the SDS, American student organization that flourished in the mid-to-late 1960s and was known for its activism against the Vietnam War. (Students for a Democratic Society) -
The U.S Supported the Coup of Diem
The Government was skeptical of supporting the coup because then the outcome of South Vietnam would be on U.S hands but after recover tapes from Kennedy it has been discovered that the U.S supported the coup. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
It was passed on August 7, 1964, by the U.S. Congress after an alleged attack on two U.S. naval destroyers stationed off the coast of Vietnam. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution effectively launched America’s full-scale involvement in the Vietnam War. -
Operation Rolling Thunder Begins
Operation Rolling Thunder was the codename for an American bombing campaign during the Vietnam War. U.S. military aircraft attacked targets throughout North Vietnam from March 1965 to October 1968. -
U.S Troop Levels Increased to 50,000
President Johnson sent 50,000 US troops to the conflict in Vietnam. -
U.S. Troop Levels Increased to 180,000
By late 1965, the United States expeditionary force in South Vietnam numbered 180,000 -
Johnson Announces He Will Not Run From Re-Election
President Johnson delivers a nationally televised address to explain a de-escalation of the U.S. bombing campaign in Vietnam. He concludes with a shocking announcement: "I shall not seek, and I will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as your president." -
Protests At The Democratic Convention
In 1968, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, tens of thousands of Vietnam War protesters battle police in the streets, while the Democratic Party falls apart over an internal disagreement concerning its stance on Vietnam. -
Nixon Wins The Election
The United States presidential election of 1968 was the 46th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 5, 1968. The Republican nominee, former Vice President Richard Nixon, defeated the Democratic nominee, incumbent Vice President Hubert Humphrey. -
U.S Troop Levels Increase to 500,000
During the 10 years of direct U.S. involvement, American troop levels reached over 500,000.
