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Domino Theory coined by Eisenhower - in light of Vietnam
“The possible consequences of the loss [of Indochina],” Eisenhower said, “are just incalculable to the free world.” In Eisenhower’s view, the loss of Vietnam to communist control would lead to similar communist victories in neighboring countries in Southeast Asia and elsewhere. -
Geneva Accords
The Geneva Accords of 1954 were an attempt to end eight years of fighting between France and Vietnam. They did that, but they also set the stage for the American phase of fighting in Southeast Asia. -
Assassination of Diem
Ngo Din Diem served as the President of South Vietnam from 1955 until he was captured and assassinated during the military coup of 1963. It is likely that Diem was assassinated because of the effect his overly brutal military tactics had on those living in South Vietnam and the unpopularity that deepened with his government. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, authorizing President Johnson to take any measures he believed were necessary to retaliate and to promote the maintenance of international peace and security in southeast Asia. -
LBJ orders first troops to Vietnam
On March 8th, 1965, two battalions of US Marines landed at the beaches of Danang, Vietnam. These were the first combat troops dispatched to South Vietnam. -
The Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive was a coordinated series of North Vietnamese attacks on more than 100 cities and outposts in South Vietnam. The offensive was an attempt to foment rebellion among the South Vietnamese population and encourage the United States to scale back its involvement in the Vietnam War. This was one of the largest campaigns in the war. -
The My Lai Massacre
When the Charlie Company of the US 11th brigade was sent into the village of My Lai on a search and destroy mission, over 500 South Vietnamese citizens were killed by the company. The news of this massacre did not make it back to the states until the following year, but when it did, America was divided over the issue and serious questions began being asked about the conduct of the US Army in Vietnam. -
Nixon's Vietnamization Policy
At the direction of President Nixon, Henry Kissinger issued a memo instructing three government departments to formulate “a specific timetable for Vietnamizing the war.” The goal was to gradually turn the war over to the South Vietnamese and begin the incremental withdrawal of US troops. The plan involved expanding and training the South Vietnamese military, improving security for the rural population, disrupting Viet Cong activities, and helping the government institute reforms. -
Nixon sends troops to Cambodia
Nixon sent troops to invade Cambodia in secret and did not announce the invasion of Cambodia until two days later. This action triggered a check on presidential power because Nixon did not approve his actions with Congress and resulted later in the War Powers Act, which limited the ability of the Commander-in-Chief to declare war without Congressional approval. -
The Kent State Shooting
On May 4, 1970, members of the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of Kent State University demonstrators, killing four and wounding nine Kent State students. The impact of the shootings was dramatic for student protests during the Vietnam War. -
The Hard Hat Riots
A group of several hundred construction workers and office workers violently disrupted a peaceful student protest against the war in Vietnam, chasing students and bystanders through the streets while beating and kicking them in NYC. This sparked two weeks of protests and counter-protests in response to the incident. -
Nixon's Christmas Bombings
Following the breakdown of peace talks with North Vietnam just a few days earlier, Nixon announces the beginning of a bombing campaign to break the stalemate. From December 18-29, American fighter-bombers dropped over 20,000 tons of bombs on cities in North Vietnam. North Vietnam claimed that over 1,600 civilians were killed. It is unclear how much these bombings affected the war. The Paris Peace Treaty talks were resumed and the treaty was signed soon after. -
Paris Peace Accords
On January 27th, 1973, North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Viet Cong, and the United States formally signed a peace treaty in Paris to end the war and restore peace in Vietnam. -
War Powers Act
After being vetoed by Nixon, the War Powers Act overrode with a 2/3 vote in the Senate and the House of Representatives and became law. This act aims to limit the scope of the Executive Branch by requiring the branch to consult and report to Congress before involving the US in foreign hostilities. -
The Fall of Saigon
The South Vietnamese stronghold of Saigon fell to the People's Army of Vietnam and the Viet Cong on April 30, 1975. The South Vietnamese forces had collapsed under the rapid advancement of the North Vietnamese.