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Geneva Accords
When the French officially removed their troops from Vietnam and Vietnam was temporarily divided along the 17th parallel, -
Domino theory coined
The domino theory was the first used explanation as to why the United States intervened in countries struggling against communism, due to the risk of communism continuing to spread within the region. -
Assassination of Diem
The assassination of the Main leader of South Vietnam, caused political instability within the country and caused South Vietnam to prepare to take military action against the North. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Two separate attacks on the US Vessel in the Pacific ocean by North Vietnamese forces, gave the US further reasoning to enter the Vietnam war. -
LBJ ordered first troops to Vietnam
Lyndon B. Johnson decided to bring in American troops to the Vietnamese mainland, after the Gulf of Tonkin incident, officially getting the American military directly involved in the Vietnam war. -
Tet offensive
A large offensive staged by the North Vietnamese onto south Vietnamese soil, which was eventually countered by American and South Vietnamese forces, but showed the American people the reality of how vulnerable America truly was in Vietnam, and how they might not be as successful as foretold. -
My Lai Massacre
The murder of 500 unarmed South Vietnamese civilians as part of a search and destroy mission, was widely criticized by US media, and US citizens. -
Nixons Vietnamization Policy
An attempt by President Nixon to withdraw American troops from Vietnam with honor, by saying they were handing the responsibility over to the South Vietnamese. -
Nixon sends troops to Cambodia
Nixon sent American troops onto Cambodian territory to cut off North Vietnamese supply lines and staging grounds. However, this decision was widely unpopular among American citizens. -
Hard Hat Riot
When a group of 800 construction workers in New York City violently dispersed an anti-war protest, which demonstrated the Silent majority of people who supported the war and opposed the protestors. -
Kent State Shooting
The killing of four Anti-war protestors by riot police, demonstrated the division among Americans regarding America's role in Vietnam, resulting in unrest on American soil. -
Christmas bombings
Very widespread bombings led by the US military destroyed many North Vietnamese military objectives and intimidated the North Vietnamese to return to the negotiation table. -
Paris Peace Accords
An agreement between all parties involved in the Vietnam war to restore and maintain peace in Vietnamese territory. -
War Powers Act
A joint resolution by the US government limited the power of the President in escalating wars, requiring more bilateral agreements between the senate and congress, regarding the president's decisions. -
Saigon Falls
When the North Vietnamese forces took over the South Vietnamese capital, marking the end of the South Vietnamese resistance, and resulting in all of Vietnam falling to communism.