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Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
After multiple attacks on the USS Maddox by Northern Vietnam, President Johnson requested power to use the military in another country without declaring war. This was very dangerous because it gave the president a lot of authority to do what he wants with the military. -
Operation Rolling Thunder
This was an intensive bombing campaign conducted by the United States. It was designed to interfere with Northern Vietnamese transportation routes and infiltration of supplies to South Vietnam. -
America's Involvement w/ Vietnam begins
President Johnson requests that Congress give him the ability to be involved in another country using the military. This happened after two attacks on the USS Maddox (US ship) by a North Vietnamese patrol boat. The navy entered Danang shortly after. -
My Lai Massacre
This was a mass murder of Vietnamese citizens by the United States army in South Vietnam. This happened on a search-and-destroy mission while the US troops were looking for Vietcong disguised as civilians. The massacre lowered American morale and the public had an outrage. -
Nixon gets Elected
Richard Nixon went against Democrat Hubert H. Humphrey and George Wallace. Nixon's campaign promised to restore "law and order" and to end the Vietnam War. He won with 301 electoral votes. -
Vietnamization begins
Since Nixon promised to end the Vietnam War, he introduced the policy of "Vietnamization." He would slowly take out US troops and leave more of the fighting to South Vietnam until they were able to defend themselves against the North. -
Kent State Shooting
Unarmed college students were protesting the war effort because of the damage the US was causing in Vietnam. The Ohio National Guard shot and killed 4 people. This cast some light on to how divided the country was.
