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Domino Theory coined- Eisenhower
Eisenhower coined one of the most famous Cold War phrases when he suggested that the fall of French Indochina to the communists could create a “domino” effect in Southeast Asia. It stated that if one country in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would follow in a domino effect. -
Geneva Accords
In July 1954, the Geneva Agreements were signed. As part of the agreement, the French agreed to withdraw their troops from northern Vietnam. Vietnam would be temporarily divided at the 17th parallel, pending elections within two years to choose a president and reunite the country. It was significant because it brought an end to the First Indochina War and marked the end of French influence in Southeast Asia. -
Assassination of Diem
Following the overthrow of his government by South Vietnamese military forces the day before, President Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother were captured and killed by a group of soldiers. The death of Diem caused celebration among many people in South Vietnam, but also lead to political chaos in the nation. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution authorized President Lyndon Johnson to “take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression” by the communist government of North Vietnam. This effectively launched America's full scale involvement in the Vietnam War. -
LBJ ordered 1st troops to Vietnam
the United States first deployed troops to Vietnam in 1965 in response to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident of August 2 and 4, 1964. Marines landed near Da Nang in South Vietnam, marking the United States' first action of the Vietnam War. -
Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive was a coordinated series of North Vietnamese attacks on more than 100 cities and outposts in South Vietnam. It played an important role in weakening U.S. public support for the war in Vietnam. -
My Lai Massacre
The mass murder of unarmed women, children, and old men in South Vietnamese civilians by United States troops. -
Nixon’s Vietnamization policy
The policy was to end U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War through a program to expand, equip, and train South Vietnamese forces and assign to them an ever-increasing combat role, at the same time steadily reducing the number of U.S. combat troops. -
Nixon sends troops into Cambodia
Nixon believed North Vietnam was transporting troops and supplies through neighboring Cambodia into South Vietnam. He hoped that bombing supply routes in Cambodia would weaken the United States' enemies. The bombing of Cambodia lasted until August 1973. -
Kent State shooting
It was the killings of four and wounding of nine other unarmed Kent State University students by the Ohio National Guard. The National Guardsmen fire their weapons at a group of anti-war demonstrators on the Kent State University campus. -
Hard Hat Riot
Around 400 construction workers and around 800 office workers attacked around 1,000 demonstrators affiliated with the student strike of 1970. Some construction workers carried U.S. flags and chanted "USA, All the way", and "America, love it or leave it". -
Nixon’s Christmas bombing
American B-52s and fighter-bombers dropped over 20,000 tons of bombs on the cities of Hanoi and Haiphong. The United States lost 15 of its giant B-52s and 11 other aircraft during the attacks. This eventually ended the Vietnam war. -
Paris Peace Accords
The United States, South Vietnam, Viet Cong and North Vietnam formally sign “An Agreement Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam” in Paris. -
War Powers Act
A resolution designed to limit the U.S. president's ability to initiate or escalate military actions abroad. The president now needed the approval of congress to put American troops in combat areas. -
Saigon Falls
The South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese Army, effectively ending the Vietnam War. The US was forced to abandon its embassy in the city and evacuate more than 7,000 US citizens and South Vietnamese by helicopter.