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Geneva Accords
Conference in which diplomats from alomst a hundred nations attended to discuss Cold War hotspots such as Berlin and Korea. The imminent French surrended forced Vietnam on the list, and decisiond which were meant to bring peace in Vietnam eventually contributed to the war. -
French Fall to Viet Minh at Dien Bien Phu
After losing to the Viet Minh at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, it marked the end of French involvement in Southeast Asia. France lost more than 35,000 men and 48,000 had been wounded. -
Eisenhower cites Domino Effect Doctrine
In response to the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu, Eisenhower says that Southeast Asia is much like a set of dominos, and it is with an incresaing level of certainty that once the first falls, many afterwards will follow suit. -
Diem rejects Geneva Accords; Refuses to Hold Elections
South Vietnam's corrupted leader Deim refuses to comply with the Geneva accords because he wishes to gain the presidency with no competitiors. Because of this he holds no free elections. -
Ngo Dinh Diem becomes president of South Vietnam
After holding an 'election' between Bao Dai, who had tried to get him out of office, and himself, Ngo Dinh Diem claims the position of President of South Vietnam. -
First US casualties
US military perssonel suffer their first casualties when 13 Americans are wounded in 3 terrorist bombings in Saigon. -
Weapons begin moving along Ho Chi Minh Trail
North Vietnam creates Group 559, and starts getting weapons into South Vietnam along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The Trail becomes a target for military attacks. -
National Liberation Front formed
Vietnamese political organization formed to overthrow the South Vietnamese government and reunifiy North and South Vietnam. -
Kennedy sends 400 Green Beret "Special Advisors"
Kennedy sends these troops in to train South Vietnamese soliders in 'counter insurgency' to fight against gurellia warfare. -
Diem is assassinated
In August, after Americans realized they could no longer support Diem, there was a coup set up to overthrow him. Diem and his brother tried to flee, but were captured, and then killed by rebels who were foes of Diem. -
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
gave congressional approval for the support and expansion of the Vietnam War -
Operation Rolling Thunder
from March of 1965 to October of 1968, U.S. military aircraft attacked targets throughout North Vietnam to put military pressure on North Vietnam's leaders and limit their ability to wage war against South Vietnam. Marked a major expansion of US involvement in the war. -
Nguyen Van Thieu elected President of South Vietnam
following Diem's assassination, Thieu is elected as president and then is reeelected in 1971 until South Vietnam falls at the end of the war. -
Tet Offensive
In the last part of the month of January, 1968, Viet Cong forces launched a coordinated attack against mutliple places in South Vietnam. US and South Vietnamese armies both sustained heavy loses. This offensive played an important role in weakening US support for the war -
Vietnamization
Upon his taking office, Richard Nixon introduced the strategy of Vietnamization, the goal being to end American Involvement in the Vietnam War by giving all the military responsibilities to South Vietnam. -
First U.S. troops withdrawn from South Vietnam
First batallion of 814 soliders are extracted from Vietnam. 14 more increments woud follow in the withdrawal, for a total of 25,000 troops. The last troops did not leave Saigon until after the Paris Peace accords in January of 1973 -
Kent State Massacre
college students of Kent State Univeristy were protesting the Cambodian Campaign, which Richard Nixon announced during a television adress, were fired upon by the Ohio national guard. 4 students were killed and nine others were wounded, one of whom suffered permanent paralysis. -
26th ammendment
ammendment to the United States Constitution that lowered the legal voting age from 21 to 18 -
War Powers Resolution
federal law intended to check the presidents power in the case of a miltary conflict, and to limit what he can do in declaring war or declaring a national emergency. Congress must give aproval for things to escalate. -
South Vietnam Surrenders
North Vietnamese forces moved into Saigon with little resistance, North Vietnam's colonel, Bui Tin, accepted the surrended from General Duong Van Minh. Vietnam was restored under one government.
