The Vietnam War

Viet Minh Soldiers Ho Chi Min

1. Viet Minh wage guerilla warfare attack and defeat French July 1950 - The United States pledges $15 million worth of military aid to France to help them fight in Vietnam. May 7, 1954 - The French suffer a decisive defeat at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. 1. Viet Minh wage guerilla warfare attack and defeat French July 21, 1954 - The Geneva Accords creates a cease-fire for the peaceful withdrawal of the French from Vietnam 1. Vietnam is divided at the 17th Parallel (to hold off Ho Chi Minh and the communists in the North) 2. Soviet Union and China support the North 3. U.S. supports the South

October 26, 1955 - South Vietnam declares itself the Republic of Vietnam, with U.S. supported newly elected Ngo Dinh Diem as president. December 20, 1960 - The National Liberation Front (NLF), also called the Viet Cong, is established in South Vietnam. 1. Viet Cong- Communist guerilla groups supported by the North, responsible for staging attacks on the South 2. Intent on toppling Diem’s government 3. U.S. sends more troops to quell the Viet Cong November 2, 1963 - South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem is executed during a coup. August 2 and 4, 1964 – Gulf of Tonkin Incident- North Vietnamese attack two U.S. destroyers sitting in international waters.

March 8, 1965 - The first U.S. combat troops arrive in Vietnam August 7, 1964 - In response to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, the U.S. Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. 1. Gave U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson authorization, without a formal declaration of war by Congress, for the use of military force in Southeast Asia. March 2, 1965 – Operation Rolling Thunder- A sustained U.S. aerial bombing campaign of North Vietnam begins. March 8, 1965 - The first U.S. combat troops arrive in Vietnam January 30, 1968 – Tet Offensive- The North Vietnamese join forces with the Viet Cong, attacking approximately one hundred South Vietnamese cities and towns. 1. U.S. wins, but public support for war wanes

Tet General Nguyễn Ngọc Loan executing an officer during the Tet Offensive Tet

Buddhist Monk burning himself in protest

March 16, 1968 – Mai Lai Massacre- U. S March 16, 1968 – Mai Lai Massacre- U.S. soldiers kill hundreds of Vietnamese civilians in the town of Mai Lai. May, 1968 – U.S. and North Vietnam begin talks, U.S. submits a new policy of Vietnamization: 1. U.S. will withdraw troops, but will train Vietnamese replacements December 1968 - U.S. troops in Vietnam reaches 540,000.

July 1969 - President Nixon orders the first of many U. S July 1969 - President Nixon orders the first of many U.S. troop withdrawals from Vietnam. March 1972 - Easter Offensive- The North Vietnamese cross the demilitarized zone (DMZ) at the 17th parallel to attack South Vietnam January 27, 1973 - The Paris Peace Accords are signed that provide a cease-fire. March 29, 1973 - The last U.S. troops are withdrawn from Vietnam. 1. South Vietnam is on its own to fight the North

April 30, 1975 - South Vietnam surrenders to the communists. March 1975 - North Vietnam launches a massive assault on South Vietnam. April 30, 1975 - South Vietnam surrenders to the communists. - Vietnam surrenders (1.5 million killed by communists) - Cambodia surrenders to Khmer Rouge (2 million killed by communists) Laos surrenders (60,000 killed by communists) *Was the domino theory correct? July 2, 1976 - Vietnam is unified as a communist country, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.