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The French suffer a decisve defeat at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu
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The Geneva Accords creates a cease-fire for the peaceful withdrawal of the French from Vietnam and provides a temporary boundary between North and South Vietnam at the 17th parallel.
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South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam and elects Ngo Dimh Diem President.
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The National Liberation front, also called Viet Cong is established in South Vietnam.
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An american serviceman dies in Vietnam, the first combat death report . For many americans, the death will mark the beginning of Vietnam War.
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North Vietnamese gunboats attack the USS Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin; the maddox suffers little damage and no casualities are reported
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The North Vietnamese join forces with the Viet Cong to launch the Tet Offensive, attacking approximately one hundred South Vietnamese cities and towns.
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U.S. soldiers kill hundreds of Vietnamese civilians in the town of Mai Lai.
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President Nixon announces that U.S. troops will attack enemy locations in Cambodia. This news sparks nationwide protests, especially on college campuses.
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The North Vietnamese cross the demilitarized zone (DMZ) at the 17th parallel to attack South Vietnam in what became known as the Easter Offensive.
