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Geneva Conference
World powers met in Geneva, Switzerland to solve the problems in Asia. This increased the United States' involvement in the war. -
Vietcong Formed
The People's Liberation Armed Forces, known as Vietcong was formed by North Vietnamese communists. Their main goal was to improve the stuggle against South Vietnam. -
Tonkin Resolution
This allowed the President to use armed forces to assist overseas without a formal declaration of war. It was opposed by two senators because the U.S. had no business in the war. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
U.S. bombers were ordered to run bombardment operations over North Vietnam. They ran for around three and a half years. They were inteded to pressure and weaken the north's forces. -
Battle of Ia Drang Valley
U.S. troops landed with air support near Plei Me as an offensive attack. Nearly 300 Americans were killed. -
Questioning Operations
The Senate Foreign Relations Committe brought into question the U.S. troops in Vietnam. They didn't feel it was legal or the best thing to do. -
Tet Offensive
The Viet Cong started an attack against South Vietnam and the United States. This occured over a cease-fire period during the Tet Lunar New Year. -
My Lai
U.S. troops were to My Lai, South Vietnam where they masscred innocent citizens. They called it a victory, but it was later revealed that they had not been able to fight back. -
Operatoin Breakfast
B-52 Bombers from the U.S. were sent to bomb Cambodia and Laos. They believed that destroying the military camps in those countries would ruin the communist trade route between them and North Vietnam. -
Ho Chi Minh Dies
Ho Chi Minh died of a heart attack. This took away the leader of communist Viet Cong. -
Peace Talks
Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho met in Paris to discuss a peace agreement. These meetings were held secretly. -
Kent State Incident
The announcement of the invasion on Cambodia provoked protests which included burning an ROTC building at Ket State university in Ohio. Guardsmen fired into the crowd and killed four people. -
26th Amendment
People didn't like that young men were being drafted into the military, but they were not allowed to vote yet. The passing and signing of this amendment lowered the voting age to 18 from 21. -
Peace Agreement
Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho reach a peace agreement after secret talks. Nixon anounced that "peace is at hand" even though South Vietnam rejected the agreement. -
Christmas Bombing
After the negotiations between Nixon and North Vietnam collapsed, Nixon ordered a bombing of the north. This lasted for eleven days over Christmas. -
US withdrawls from Vietnam
The United States agreed to a cease-fire to remove all troops from Vietnam. This included all prisoners of war. Almost all Americans were out by the end of that year. -
End of the Draft
Selective Service announced that the draft for the Vietnam War would be discontinued. It was believed that the youth would stop protesting if they knew they wouldn't be sent to Vietnam. -
Vietnamization
A plan to get all American troops out of Vietnam was formed in 1969. It was never started until 1973. All troop and prisoners of war returned to the states. -
War Powers Act
This act requires the President to get consent from Congress before sending troops into war zones. The exception is in the case of a national emergency. -
South Vietnam Surrenders
North Vietnam invaded Saigon and broke through the gates of the Presidential Palace. Later, General Duong Van Minh surrendered to North Vietnam.
