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Viet Minh attacks the French Military. (Major Military Operations)
Viet Minh which was a national indepent coalition lead by Vo Nguyen Giap attacks the French forces. This occurs in Dien Bien Phu which is a city located in the northwestern region of Vietnam. After the battle, France agrees to take their troops out of Northern Vietnam. -
The Geneva Conference. (Politcal Events)
The Geneva Conference consisted of China, the UK, the U.S, France, the USSR, the Republic of Vietnam, the Kingdom of Laos, and the Kingdom of Cambodia. They discussed the issues in Asia, especially the Indochina war. As a result of this conference, there were Geneva Agreements and also the Geneva Accords that ended the First Indochina War. -
Operation Passage to Freedom. (Homefront events)
Operation freedom was the transportation of around 310,000 Vietnamese soldiers, and civilians. Among these 310,000 members of the French Army boarded the USS Montague that headed for South Vietnam. This operation was open to any person who wanted to leave their home after the Vietnamese Government gave them the option of relocation. -
Ngo Dinh Diem becomes leader. (Political Events)
Ngo Dinh Diem soon becomes the leader of South Vietnam due to his strictness and dictatorship. He was one of the first Vietnamese people to convert their religion to roman catholicism and he served as a minister prior to his leadership. He was widely unpopular due to his brutal tactics and harsh ruling. -
The US supports Diem. (Homefront events)
Following the Geneva Agreement, President Eisenhower signs off that The United States is now supporting Ngo Dinh Diem, the Vietnamese Prime Minister. The Domino Theory became a big factor in this decision as the US wanted to contain communism and maintain control over their foreign affairs. With the U.S supporting Diem, they were able to make changes in the Vietnamese government and they thought of him as a good face against communism. -
President Kennedy sends helicopters and 400 tree berets. (Homefront events)
President Kennedy supports the South Vietnamese and sends the 400 tree berets to aid in the battle with the Viet Cong. The Viet Cong’s use unheard of tactics and they are able to land successful attacks against the South Vietnamese and berets. As a result, Viet Cong was able to conquer most parts of South Vietnam and the mission was deemed unsuccessful. -
Diem and Ngo Dinh are killed. (Major Military Operations)
After overthrowing the South Vietnamese Government, The United States aid in a military coup against Diem. Diem and his brother, Ngo Dinh Nhu are captured and brutally killed which causes disorganization and confusion. Following their death up to 12 governments try to step up and take control but many are unsuccessful. -
President Kennedy is assassinated. (Homefront Events)
On November 22, U.S President Kennedy is assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. On a ride home, Kennedy is shot in the head and dies immediately in front of the press and many civilians. As a result of his death, Vice President Lyndon B Johnson becomes the new President of the United States. -
Gulf of Tonkin (Major Military Operations)
The Maddox and Turner Joy are destroyed by the North Vietnamese which was part of the U.S Seventh Fleet. This resulted in the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which stated that President Lyndon was able to “take all necessary measure to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.” (Gulf of Tonkin Resolution) This instigated tension between America and Vietnam as the U.S was afraid of another attack. -
Operation Rolling Thunder (Major Military Operations)
During this time, the United States focusses its attacks on the North Vietnamese Military in a bombing campaign. Hanoi and Haiphong were areas that the U.S could not destroy, but the attacks were to interfere with the Hanoi regime. Bombing Hanoi would have been the worst decision for the United States and the mission ultimately failed as the bombs did not hit their targets. -
The First Draft (Homefront events)
On December 1 in the United States, there was the first-ever draft lottery since 1942. The Vietnam War Selective Service Lottery was open to young men ages 19-26 and the chart based off the draft corresponded with your birthday. The draft was ultimately unfair and your chances of being drafted became higher if you were closer to 26 than 19. -
Kent States Massacre (Homefront event)
A peaceful rally advocating the ending of the Vietnam War becomes deadly as 4 people are killed and 9 people get injured. A former student was the first to shoot into the crowd and the impact the shooting had on other schools was dramatic. People’s opinions on the war began to change due to the massacre and it is said that many were beginning to be opposed to the war. -
Nixon States that he will end the War (Homefront events)
In an address to the United States regarding the Vietnam War, President Nixon states that he will be the one to end the conflicts between the U.S and Vietnam. He begins to reduce the number of troops in Vietnam and he gains support for ending the war. He believed that putting pressure on Vietnam would cease the war, but these tactics did not work. -
North and South Vietnam unite (Political Events)
In 1975, South and North Vietnam are now unified countries. When the communists in the North finally dominated the South they came together, but there were still tensions between the two. Communists and South Vietnamese people were unable to get along even years after they were brought together. -
President Ford and Vietnam (Homefront Events)
On April 23, President Gerald Ford stated the U.S will no longer have military involvement with Vietnam. He says that fighting is almost useless and it is damaging to the U.S that we keep fighting. This technically ended the War against the U.S and Vietnam. The public was happy to hear the news about this decision, but the war was not fully over until the incident in Saigon.