1. The Vietnam War

2. 1. France initially colonized Vietnam in the 1800s.

3. 2. During World War II Japan occupied Vietnam.

4. 3. Following the war France moved back in but were forced out by the Communists North Vietnam (Viet Minh) under Ho Chi Minh.

5. 4. In 1954, Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel: Communists North and democratic South.

6. 5. Reunification was always the goal of the communists.

7. 6. Beginning with President Eisenhower, America began sending "military advisors" to help the South Vietnamese.

8. 7. President Kennedy increased the number of Americans.

9. 8. After his assassination, President Johnson escalated our involvement with the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in 1964.

10. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

11. 9. Starting in March 1965, Johnson sent 50,000 more Americans to protect U.S. airbases. By 1966, there were 375,000 American troops in Vietnam.

12. My Lai Massacre

13. 10. Later Johnson began a policy of "Vietnamization," allowing the South Vietnamese forces to take complete control of the conflict. This would allow U. S. forces to be withdrawn.

14. 11. Nixon was elected in 1968 and continued the policy of Vietnamization. It failed as South Vietnamese forces were no match for the invading North Vietnamese Army which were being supplied by the Soviets.

15. 12. American troops were slowly withdrawn from Vietnam.

16. 13. In January, 1973, the US and North Vietnam signed the Paris Peace Accords, a ceasefire agreement.

17. 14. The last American troops left in March 1973 and shortly after the ceasefire collapsed.

18. 15. In April 1975, the capital of South Vietnam, Saigon, fell to the communists and the two Vietnams were shortly reunified under communist control.