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Geneva Conference
At this conference the Geneva Accords were formed that created a cease fire for peaceful withdrawl of France from Vietnam. It also divided Vietnam into North and South creating a boundary at the 17th parallel. -
South Vietnam Declaration
South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam and Ngo Dinh Diem becomes president. -
Viet Cong
The Viet Cong which was offically called The National Liberation Front (NLF) was established in South Vietnam. -
Execution
Ngo Dinh Diem, the South Vietnamese President, was executed in a coup of the army generals. President Kennedy was aware of the coup but was still shocked of the death of the President. -
Tonkin Gulf Incident
On August 2 1964 and two days later on August 4 1964 two United States destroyers were attacked by the North Vietnamese while sitting in international waters. This led to greater United States involvement in the war. -
Tonkin Gulf Resolution
Under the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson, Congress passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution. This acted as a functional decleration of war giving Johnson the power to take any measures he believed neccessary to retaliate and promote international peace in Southeast Asia. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
A gradual and sustained aerial bombing campaign of North Vietnam by the United States begins. -
Troops Arrive
The first United States Marine combat troops land at Da Nang in Vietnam. -
Tet Offensive
The North Vietnamese joined forces with the Viet Cong attacking over one hundred South Vietnamese cities in total. The United States embassy was seized for hours and many capitols taken over on just the first day of the attacks. -
Mai Lai Massacre
A massacre of between 347 anf 504 unarmed South Vietnamese civilians in the town of Mai Lai by the United States Army. Victims included men, women, and children. Bodies were mutilated and hardly any soldiers were ever tried for crimes. -
United States' Troops
This year ended the bloodiest year of the Vietnam War. During this month the number of United States military toops in Vietnam reached 540,000. -
Anti-Vietnam War Demonstration
The Vietnam Moratorium Committee staged a protest of nearly half a million people in Washington. It is now known to be one of the largest anti-war protests in United States history. Nixon was not phased by the protest. -
Cambodia
President Nixon announced the United States' plan to launch an attack on enemy locations in Cambodia. This sparked protests throughout the United States. -
Kent State
The United States National Gaurd shoots into a crowd of demonstrators as an anti-war protest at Kent State University gets out of hand. Four were killed, two students were protesting, two were just simply walking to class. This further intensified sentiment against American aggression in Cambodia and Vietnam. -
Pentagon Papers
Portions of the Pentagon Papers were published in the New York Times. These showed the United States political and military involvement in the Vietnam War. It showed that the Johnson administration had not been truthful to the people or Congress about the war. This further upset an already unhappy American public. -
Easter Offensive
The North Vietnamese cross over the demilitarization zone at the 17th parallel to launch an attack on South Vietnam. This continues into October of this same year. -
Paris Peace Accords
In Paris, the United States, South Vietnam, Viet Cong, and North Vietnam sign a cease-fire agreement. South Vietnam refused to recognize the Viet Cong's government and thus the actual agreement was between North Vietnam and the United States, while South Vietnman was given another document. The United States agreed to withdraw troops and dismantel bases while North Vietnam agreed to release prisoners of war. -
Withdraw of Troops
Troops leave South Vietnam as United States prisoners of war are being freed from the Northern Vietnam capitol city of Hanoi. -
Fall of Saigon
South Vietnam surrendered to the communists as the capitol of South Vietnam, Saigon was captured by the People's Army of Vietnam and the Vietcong. Tha last remaining troops are airlifted out of the country as the war ends.
