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Vietnam Declares Independence
After the surrender of Japan under the United States, Japans leader Ho Chi Minh saw this oppurtunity to declare independence. -
France invades Vietnam
The French did not recognize Vietnam as a independent country so they invaded Vietnam. French troops forced the Vietnam citizens to hide in the countryside. -
France needs Help
After invading Vietnam the French set up a new government so Vietnam could not be independent. France asked for help from the United States. -
Eisenhower Takes Office
Eisenhower takes office after being elected in 1952. Eisenhower supports France after seeing China fall to communism. -
Domino Theory
The United States was paying about three-fourths of France's war debts. Eisenhower's reasoning for this was his domino theory, or the belief that if Vietnam fell to communism, the other nations of Southeast Asia would too. -
American Aid increased
President Eisenhower stepped up the aid from the United States by sending over hundreds of advisors to train South Vietnamese troops. This gave the Vietnamese troops a better chance of winning battles -
JFK Takes Office
After taking office in 1961 John F Kennedy continued his war efforts in south Vietnam, the number of American troops in Vietnam increased by over 13,000. -
United States sends in Rolling Thunder
After being attacked by the Vietcong, Johnson came up with opperation Rolling Thunder to drop bombs. -
American Increased Troops
After the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was signed, President Johnson had control over the war. The number of American troops at that time was around 180,000. -
America Pulls out of the War
Nixon tried to make a deal with the president of South Vietnam. This did not work because the president of South Vietnam did not want North Vietnam troops in the South. Nixon ordered the dropping of 11 bombing runs by B-52's which is known as the christmas bombings.
