1. Vietnam War Timeline

2. Vietnam

3. 1950 U.S fights in Korea U.S fights in Korea Grants military aid to France to fight Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam Grants military aid to France to fight Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam

4. 1954 Eisenhower coins “domino theory” Eisenhower coins “domino theory” French defeated at Dienbienphu French defeated at Dienbienphu Geneva Accords – Vietnam partitioned Geneva Accords – Vietnam partitioned U.S. begins aid to South Vietnam U.S. begins aid to South Vietnam

5. 1962 12,000 American advisors in South Vietnam 12,000 American advisors in South Vietnam

6. 1963 Anti-government demonstrations by Buddhists Anti-government demonstrations by Buddhists Diem government overthrown in coup – Diem killed Diem government overthrown in coup – Diem killed Kennedy assassinated Kennedy assassinated

7. 1964 Tonkin Gulf incident – U.S. retaliates (USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy) Tonkin Gulf incident – U.S. retaliates (USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy)

8. 1964 (continued) Tonkin Gulf Resolution Tonkin Gulf Resolution –“take all necessary measures to repel any attack against forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.” 23,300 American advisors in South Vietnam 23,300 American advisors in South Vietnam

9. 1965 Marine combat troops land to protect airbase at DaNang Marine combat troops land to protect airbase at DaNang 200,000 troops by year’s end 200,000 troops by year’s end

10. 1966 U.S. uses chemical defoliants (Agent Orange) U.S. uses chemical defoliants (Agent Orange) Troop strength grows to 400,000 Troop strength grows to 400,000

11. 1967 Anti-war protests intensify Anti-war protests intensify Troop strength at 500,000 Troop strength at 500,000

12. 1968 Battle of Khe Sanh Battle of Khe Sanh Tet Offensive Tet Offensive –Major offensive by Vietcong/NVA –“light at the end of the tunnel” totally discredited

13. 1968 (continued) Eugene McCarthy nearly defeats President Johnson in New Hampshire primary election Eugene McCarthy nearly defeats President Johnson in New Hampshire primary election Robert Kennedy announces candidacy Robert Kennedy announces candidacy President Johnson announces he will not seek reelection President Johnson announces he will not seek reelection

14. 1968 (continued) Martin Luther King assassinated Martin Luther King assassinated Robert Kennedy assassinated Robert Kennedy assassinated

15. 1968 (continued) Peace talks begin in Paris Peace talks begin in Paris Richard Nixon elected in close election Richard Nixon elected in close election Troop strength at 540,000 Troop strength at 540,000

16. 1969 Paris peace talks expand Paris peace talks expand Nixon orders secret bombing of Cambodia Nixon orders secret bombing of Cambodia Nixon announces withdrawal of 25,000 troops Nixon announces withdrawal of 25,000 troops –Policy of “Vietnamization” begins Ho Chi Minh dies Ho Chi Minh dies

17. 1969 (continued) Congress begins opposition to war Congress begins opposition to war Nationwide “moratorium” Nationwide “moratorium” My Lai massacre revealed My Lai massacre revealed Draft Lottery instituted Draft Lottery instituted

18. 1970 National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger begins secret negotiations with Le Duc Tho National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger begins secret negotiations with Le Duc Tho Another 150,000 troops withdrawn by years end Another 150,000 troops withdrawn by years end Troop strength falls to 280,000 Troop strength falls to 280,000

19. 1970 (continued) U.S. troops attack sanctuaries in Cambodia U.S. troops attack sanctuaries in Cambodia Kent State demonstration – 4 students killed Kent State demonstration – 4 students killed

20. 1971 “Pentagon Papers” published in the New York Times “Pentagon Papers” published in the New York Times Nixon forms the “plumbers” unit Nixon forms the “plumbers” unit Troop strength falls to 139,000 Troop strength falls to 139,000

21. 1972 Nixon announces peace proposal negotiated by Kissinger and Le Duc Tho Nixon announces peace proposal negotiated by Kissinger and Le Duc Tho North Vietnam launches massive offensive across the DMZ North Vietnam launches massive offensive across the DMZ Nixon resumes bombing of the North Nixon resumes bombing of the North U.S. mines Haiphong harbor U.S. mines Haiphong harbor

22. 1972 (continued) Five men arrested breaking into the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate complex Five men arrested breaking into the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate complex Kissinger announces “breakthrough” in peace talks Kissinger announces “breakthrough” in peace talks Nixon reelected in a landslide Nixon reelected in a landslide

23. 1972 (continued) Kissinger talks breakdown – Le Duc Tho walks out Kissinger talks breakdown – Le Duc Tho walks out U.S. resumes bombing – “Christmas Bombing” U.S. resumes bombing – “Christmas Bombing” Communists agree to resume talks Communists agree to resume talks

24. 1973 January 27 – Cease- fire agreement signed January 27 – Cease- fire agreement signed March 29 – last American ground troops leave Vietnam March 29 – last American ground troops leave Vietnam April 1 – All U.S. POWs released April 1 – All U.S. POWs released

25. 1974 Nixon resigns Nixon resigns

26. 1975 North Vietnam resumes war against South North Vietnam resumes war against South South Vietnam collapses South Vietnam collapses Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City

27. 1976 President Carter pardons 10,000 men who evaded the draft President Carter pardons 10,000 men who evaded the draft

28. 1982 Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, DC Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, DC –Contains names of over 58,000 American dead