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French colonised Vietnam
In the mid 1800s the French colonised Vietnam. By 1885, the French looked to take over Vietnam and by 1887, they were successful in their desires of having power over Vietnam, naming it French Indochina. This was a significant event in the lead up to the Vietnam war as it set up the contention for later conflict between the French and North Vietnam. -
Japanese Invade French indochina
During World War II, Japanese troops invaded French indochina and occupied Vietnam, with very little French resistance, the French imperialism was replaced by its Japanese counterpart. This setup, Vietnam's desires for independence, where Ho Chi Minh and communists created The League for Independence of Vietnam, to free them from French and Japanese occupation. -
Japan's WWII Defeat
After the Japanese’s previous surrender and withdrawal of Vietnam in March 1945, Japan was then defeated by the Allies at the end in World War II, leaving a gap of power of indochina, creating tension between the French and Vietnam, in the France’s attempt to reset it’s authority over Vietnam. -
Truman Doctrine Policy
President Harry Truman establishes the Truman Doctrine policy in an address to congress, which states that the foreign policy of the United States is to assist any country whose stability is threatened by communism. This policy, is what causes the United States to enter the Vietnam war, from fear of the spread of Communism, which also comes to be known as the domino effect. -
Genova Conference
Diplomats from United States, France, Great Britain, Soviet Union, China and Vietnam, gather at the Genova Conference. To discuss and settle the issues of the Korean war and the Indochina War. This was a significant event as it permanently forced France out of Vietnam and temporarily split Vietnam into North and South. Creating the divide between the two sides and the tension which initiated the war, with the North’s desire of the spread of communism. -
The Fall of the French Indochina
The French are defeated by the Viet Minh forces at Dien Bien Phu, marking the end of the French rule in Indochina. This fall of the French Indochina to communists, creates a fear in the eyes of the U.S that a ‘domino effect’ (spread of communism) will occur through the Southeast of Asia, which is what engages the U.S in the Vietnam War. -
Creation of the Viet Cong
Nguyen Van Hieu, president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), creates the Viet Cong as an organised communist guerilla movement. It was basically a military arm of National Liberation Front. It was significantly created by the North Vietnamese communists in the South to hand them easy access to the South and escalate the armed struggles in South Vietnam. -
President John F. Kennedy Secret Operations
President John F. Kennedy sends helicopters and 400 Green Berets to south Vitiem and authorises secret operations against the Viet Cong. This begun to lead the U.S into the war, to help the Vietnamese supplying aid, weaponry and military officials, to protect and assist them from the threats and attacks of the North Vietnamese. -
Gulf of Tonkin
A series of two alleged attacks from the North of Vietnam on American warships in the waters of Gulf of Tonkin. This paved a pathway for the US to be more heavily involved within the Vietnam war conflict. Helping provide troops and forces to South Vietnam. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
Marks the beginning of bombing campaign known as ‘Operation Rolling Thunder’. Was formed by the U.S in an attempt to weaken and place pressure on the North Vietnamese military and reduce their capacity to wage the war. This was a significant step in the Vietnam war as it was the U.S first major involvement in the war and highly expanded their involvement in the war. This Campaign continued on for three years until October 1986. -
Vietnam War Protests
Huge Vietnam War Protests occur in Washington, D.C, New York and San Francisco. With over 100,000 protesters showing up in each city, to protest against the American war effort in Vietnam, praying and begging for an end to this conflict. These movements were the most powerful sign of their commitment to this cause, pressuring the American government to show their control of the War. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv7Gk-Pg7Rw -
The Test Offensive
The Test Offensive begins, a coordinated series of attacks on over 100 South Vietnamese Cities and outposts, including Hue, Saigon and the U.S embassy by the North Vietnamese. These significant raids, created a massive turning point in the war, creating anger, fear and scaring the U.S citizens and Government into a slow withdrawal from the war. -
U.S. presidential elections
Republican Richard N. Nixon wins the U.S. presidential elections on the campaign promises to restore “law and order” and to end the draft. This significant event marked the start of a progressing end to the War, as a few months later in January Nixon gradually begun reducing the number of U.S. forces in South Vietnam of 549,000 in 1969 to 69,000 in 1972, in a strategy known as Vietnamization. https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4635685/law-order-richard-nixon-1968-presidential-acceptance-speech\ -
Paris Peace Accords
President Richard N.Nixon signs the Paris Peace Accords, ending direct U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War and he North Vietnamese accepted a cease fire.. However, for South Vietnam without the help of the U.S were vulnerable. Creating fertile ground The North Vietnamese military officials to continue plotting to overtake South Vietnam as U.S. troops depart Vietnam. -
End of the Vietnam war
South Vietnam is overtaken by communist forces of the North in Saigon (the capital of South Vietnam) , forcing South of Vietnam to surrender. The U.S. Marine and Air Force helicopters transport more than 1,000 American civilians and 7,000 South Vietnamese refugees out of Saigon in an 18-hour mass evacuation effort. This significantly marks the end of the Vietnam war and later lead to the unifying of North and South Vietnam the Socialist Republic of Vietnam under hardline communist rule.
