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American Involvement in Vietnam Begins
The Americans got involved in Vietnam to keep the South from becoming communist. The United States gave lots of economic aid.They fought the Southern communist guerillas also known as the Vietcong. The Americans' view on the war changed as controversial events occured. -
Vietcong Begin Attacks on the Diem Government
The Vietcong launched attacks on the Diem government so they could take it communist. Diem's army was trained by the Americans so they could learn how to defend themselves from the Vietcong. Diem trusted nobody, and was later assassinated. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
As a result of U.S. and Vietnamese boats firing at each other in the Gulf of Tonkin, a resolution was created. The resolution allowed for President Johnson to take any action needed to retaliate and also to keep peace. -
Tet Offensive
On the holiday of Tet, the Vietcong in South Vietnam launched an offensive in 13 cities. They attacked government buildings and even the U.S embassy. This questioned the U.S. whether they should have troops in Vietnam. -
My Lai Massacre
United States troops went into the village of My Lai and killed mostly all the innocent kids and women in the village. Then, the U.S. troops denied that they killed all those people for no reason, but claimed there were Vietcong in the village. Boodies were found dismembered and women were gang-raped. -
Protests at the Democratic Convention
People go crazy and battle with police in Chicago while the Democratic Party is split on the involvement in Vietnam. Fights broke out on the floor and people were beating each other as the debate intensified. -
Fall of Saigon
The Vietcong took control of Saigon and the government there, making the whole country socialist. This made Vietnam reunified after many years and this called for Americans to evacuate. Operation Frequent Wind evacuated all Americans from the U.S. embassy which was being attacked. Their is a picture that shows a helicopter airlifting all the remaining Americans out of Vietnam.
