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The country was under the French, and the Japanese invaded, where Ho Chi Minh formed the Viet Minh, the League for the Independence of Vietnam. It affected the people since they were under this invasion and fighting for independence, along with the French, who controlled the country. It furthered tensions by establishing North Vietnam (communist). -
This war was between the Viet Minh and the French, with the Viet Minh fighting for independence. Vietnamese civilians suffered heavy losses. It raised Cold War tensions as the U.S. feared a communist victory -
The U.S. began supporting France with money and weapons to stop communism. This helped the French but also pulled America into the conflict. It was an early sign of U.S. commitment to fighting communism in Vietnam -
The U.S. believed if one country fell to communism, others would follow. It impacted American foreign policy across Asia. The theory was a major reason the U.S. got involved in Vietnam -
These agreements ended the First Indochina War and split Vietnam at the 17th parallel. People in Vietnam were divided between North and South. The U.S. saw the North as a Soviet ally, deepening Cold War divisions -
South Vietnam’s president Diệm was killed in a coup in 1963. His death led to political chaos in the South. The U.S. was blamed for backing a corrupt leader, hurting its position in the Cold War. -
The U.S. claimed North Vietnam attacked its ships. This led Congress to give President Johnson the power to send more troops. It marked a major step in U.S. involvement and alarmed communist nations. -
North Vietnam launched surprise attacks during the Vietnamese New Year. It shocked Americans, who thought the U.S. was winning. The offensive boosted communist morale and damaged U.S. public support. -
U.S. soldiers killed hundreds of civilians in My Lai. It horrified the world and sparked outrage. The massacre helped anti-war movements and embarrassed the U.S. during the Cold War. -
The U.S. used chemical defoliants to clear forests and crops. It harmed thousands of Vietnamese and U.S. veterans. The use of such weapons caused global criticism of America’s war tactics. -
The U.S. started leaving Vietnam while training South Vietnamese to fight. American soldiers went home, but South Vietnam struggled. Communists saw this as a U.S. retreat. -
Congress passed this to limit the president’s ability to send troops without approval. It changed how the U.S. handled war. It was a reaction to Vietnam and distrust of executive power. -
North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon, ending the war. South Vietnam fell, and communism took over. It marked a major defeat for the U.S. and a victory for the Soviet-aligned North.