VIETNAM TIMELINE

1954 French defeat at Dien Bien Phu Signing of Geneva Accords – officially ended war between French and Vietnam US support of Ngo Dihn Diem With American support, Diem refused free elections agreed upon in Geneva Diem won “election” handily

1960 Viet Cong (NLF) in opposition to increasingly harsh Diem

1961 Kennedy sent in Green Beret “advisors” Increased military aid throughout

1963 South Vietnamese opposition strong Buddhist monks protested by self-immolation Americans losing confidence in Diem as well Kennedy encouraged a coup – Diem killed by Vietnamese military After, no regime survived without support from US

1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed – gave president war powers not given before

1965 US began strategic bombing of north – hoping to convince north (Hanoi) to pressure Viet Cong to stop fighting in south (Saigon) Direct marine combat in Danang; resulted in frequent attacks of American civilian and military personnel by Viet Cong

1968 American embassy besieged - Tet Offensive – surprise to US troops Johnson pledged not to be “the first American president to lose a war” and not to “send American boys to die there” Wasn’t able to keep either pledge

Difficult to fight enemy; couldn’t distinguish between enemy and civilians “free fire zones” and “search and destroy” missions Agent Orange, and more than 1 million tons of bombs and weapons expended on an area US was sent to protect Still, Westmoreland called for more troops

Johnson encouraged to get out – didn’t know how; vowed to seek peace rather than reelection “I do not choose, nor will I accept the nomination for president of the United States” - shocking

1969 Nixon unveiled his “Vietnamization” program – to gradually transfer combat operations to South Veitnamese army and remove American troops Troop levels peaked at 543,000; went to 334,000 in 1970 and 156,000 in 1971 Nixon had campaigned with “peace with honor” pledge My Lai massacre – seeing American troops in different light Not working; and morale problems

US invaded Cambodia even though fewer troops South Vietnamese invaded Laos with help of US – stirred much controversy in US among protestors, particularly college students (although bombing had been happening in Laos for over a decade)

1972 Nixon ordered heaviest bombing “Christmas bombing of ’72” Viet Cong, nor northern army weakening; Paris Accords signed allowing northern army in south also recognition of Viet Cong for the first time US still sent aid to Thieu regime through 1975, but Soviet Union and China aiding north. Saigon fell on April 30, 1975

DOMESTIC RESPONSE TO THE VIETNAM WAR Civil Rights Movement paved way for Anti- war movement Started out mostly college students – spread –1965 – 60% in favor of military action –1967 – country split –By 1971 – 60% opposed

Civil Disobedience Burning draft cards; fleeing to Canada to avoid draft (draft dodgers); anti-war demonstrations; many veterans returned home and joined protests (threw medals at Capitol building) Many opposed approach of protestors; led to violence (Kent State; Jackson State) Anti-war decreased with Nixon’s Vietnamization ohio- neil young - YouTube