Vietnamwar

Vietnam War Timeline

  • Battle of Dien Bien Phu Ends

    Battle of Dien Bien Phu Ends

    After the Battle of Dien Bien Phu ends, the French surrenders, and Communist Vietnam takes it over under Ho Chi Minh.
  • The Geneva Accords

    The Geneva Accords

    The "peace plan" for Vietnam is signed. The Geneva Accords divides Vietnam into Communist North Vietnam and Anti-Communist South Vietnam.
  • SEATO Forms

    SEATO Forms

    The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization forms. The purpose of the organization was to prevent the spread of communism, similar to NATO.
  • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

    Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

    The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution gives Lyndon B Johnson the power to launch full-scale war on Vietnam.
  • Operation Rolling Thunder Begins

    Operation Rolling Thunder Begins

    Operation Rolling Thunder, the 1st sustained bombing of North Vietnam, begins. U.S. continues these bombings for 3 years.
  • Tet Offensive

    Tet Offensive

    The Vietcong and North Vietnamese launch a series of surprise attacks on major cities in South Vietnam.
  • My Lai Massacre

    My Lai Massacre

    300 civilians killed in the South Vietnamese village of My Lai. After this massacre, Americans are angry, and view soldiers as "baby killers", thus giving them a bad reputation upon their return.
  • Richard Nixon Becomes President

    Richard Nixon Becomes President

    Nixon becomes President of US, and begins planning the withdrawal of US troops.
  • Nixon Announces Withdrawal

    Nixon Announces Withdrawal

    Nixon announces the 1st US Troops withdrawal from Vietnam.
  • Paris Peace Accords

    Paris Peace Accords

    The Paris Peace Accords announce the "end" of the Vietnam War. This did temporarily end the fighting between North and South Vietnam, but the fighting continued again soon after.
  • War Powers Resolution

    War Powers Resolution

    The War Powers Resolution limits the power of the president in military affairs. All military actions must now go through Congress.