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Vietnam War Timeline

  • Ho Chi Minh and the creation of the Viet Minh

    Ho Chi Minh and the creation of the Viet Minh
    This party was made to oppose French colonial rule. They aligned with communist views, hoping for a socialist revolution that would liberate Vietnam from colonial rule. This strongly opposed America’s view with capitalist ideologies. This affected Vietnamese nationalists and colonial powers.
  • The First Indochina War

    The First Indochina War
    This was a conflict between the French Colonial powers and the Viet Minh because the Viet Minh wanted to establish a communist state. The French wanted to restore their colonial authority. This affected the Vietnamese population, global powers, and the French colonial powers.
  • Domino Theory

    Domino Theory
    America was afraid of the Domino Theory, which was characterized by countries falling to communism like dominoes falling.
  • America Aids France

    America Aids France
    America aided France by providing financial and military assistance. They did so because of the fear of the “Domino Theory.” The Vietnamese and French colonists were affected by this. And a reason America aided France was that communism spread in the Cold War.
  • The Geneva Accords

    The Geneva Accords
    This aimed to resolve the Indochina conflict, specifically in Vietnam where the North and South split to become capitalist and communist. The U.S. wanted to contain communism. People who were affected were Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh, Vietnamese people, and countries that had ties.
  • Diệm’s assassination

    Diệm’s assassination
    This was seen as a pivotal point in the Vietnam war because it allowed the North to take over the South. It was seen as a victory for the Viet Cong because they were fighting against Diem's regime. This affected the South vietnamese, the U.S. government and North Vietnam/Viet Cong
  • The Gulf of Tonkin Incident

    The Gulf of Tonkin Incident
    These were unprovoked attacks on the U.S. Maddox and the USS Turner Joy by Vietnamese torpedo ships. This led to the Congress passing the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, which gave the president authority to use military force without declaring war. This affected the U.S. military, and Vietnamese people.
  • The Tet Offensive

    The Tet Offensive
    These were coordinated surprise attacks by the Viet Cong during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. This affected the U.S. public, U.S. soldiers, and the Viet Cong.
  • My Lai Massacre

    My Lai Massacre
    This was a massacre where U.S. soldiers went to the village of My Lai and killed innocent unarmed civilians. This affected Vietnamese citizens and the U.S. public.
  • Use of Agent Orange

    Use of Agent Orange
    This was a form of chemical warfare that the U.S. used in order to get Vietnam to drop out of the war. It was an herbicide that killed forests and crops. This affected the Vietnamese citizens, and Vietnam government.
  • U.S. troop withdrawals and Vietnamization

    U.S. troop withdrawals and Vietnamization
    This was when the U.S. started pulling troops out of Vietnam and handed the war over to South Vietnam. This affected the U.S. military, South Vietnam, and the us soldiers.
  • War Powers Act

    War Powers Act
    The U.S. government passed this to limit executive power in military engagements. This affected the U.S. Government, the U.S. public, and the U.S. military.
  • The Fall of Saigon

    The Fall of Saigon
    This marked the end of the Vietnam War and led South Vietnam to be taken under communist control. This affected South Vietnamese people.