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Geneva Accords
The Geneva Accords were a set of resolutions derived from the Geneva Conference that brought the end of the French Indochina War. Vietnam was introduced into the conference later on and decided to temporarily divide Vietnam at the 17th parallel. Ho Chi Minh, a communist, was in control of the North and Ngo Diem was the leader of the pro U.S. South. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution granted broad military powers to the president without having to declare war. It was derived from the Gulf of Tonkin incident and eventually led to President Johnson creating Operation Rolling Thunder. -
Tet Offensive
Tet was a Buddhist holiday that occured on Jan. 30,1968 but on that day more than 80,000 Vietcong troops attacked the metropolitan cities in South Vietnam. There were attacks on the American base Danang and the U.S. army embassy in Saigon. The American troops and South VIetnam troops reclaimed the land. -
My Lai Massacre
On the day of March 16th American soldiers began to fire on the women and children in the small town of My Lai. 300 to 500 people were killed, including many women who were gang raped and found mutilated. The U.S. soldiers goal of this attack was to drive out the members of the Vietcong that might have still been in the area. The public was outraged and questioned the morale of the war. The anti-war movement gained significant support after this event. -
Vietnamization introduced
Vietnamization was a plan created by Richard Nixon during the early years of his presidency. He had the help of Henry Kissinger, the National Security Advisor, to create this plan to end U.S. involvement in Vietnam. It called for the gradual withdrawl of U.S. troops so that South Vietnam would take responsibility for their war. -
Kent State Student Shot
Student protestors rioted and burned down ROTC buildings on the campus and destroyed property. The governor of Ohio sent out the National Gaurd to stop the protestors by firing guns at them. 4 people were killed and many were injured. -
Pentagon Papers Printed in NY
Former Defense Department worker Daniel Ellsberg released the Pentagon Papers which was a document written to the Defense Secretary Robert McNamara. This document revealed plans for the war in Vietnam and seemed to show that the war would not end until the North Vietnamese were destroyed. Americans developed disbelief in the government and a credibility gap was created.
