Vietnam+War+Timeline

= **1954** =
 * 1) Geneva Conference resulted in an immediate cease-fire in the war; Vietnam would be divided along the 17th parallel, with the Vietminh in control of North Vietnam, and a pro-Western government in the South. (1956: Elections would be held to unite the country under 1 government).

= 1956 = = 1959 = = 1960 =
 * 1) South Vietnamese president Ngo DInh Diem refuses to allow the elections called for by the Geneva accords w/ good reasons citing the North's 100% support of Ho Chi Minh+ only some of the South Vietnamese support.
 * 2) The U.S. pours military+economic aid into South Vietnam.
 * 3) South Vietnam becomes the second largest recipient of American military aid, following Korea.
 * 1) Vietminh cadres in the South create the National Liberation Front(NLF)--known as the "Viet Cong" by Americans-- established in order to overthrow Diem+ also encouraged by Ho Chi Minh. **Analysis: Ho Chi Minh and Diem were political rivals+ the Vietminh were a political and military tool for MInh to use to throw DIem out of power and give the advantage to the North.**
 * 1) Under orders+support from North Vietnam, the NLF began military operations in the South.

= 1961 = = 1963 = = ﻿1964 = = 1965 = = 1966 =
 * 1) NLF forces successful destabilizing Diem's regime. They killed over 4,000 officials per year+ Diem was losing control over his military+of many groups in South Vietnam.
 * 1) Diem attempts to suppress the Buddhists in order to make Catholicism the dominant religion in S. Vietnam through massacres+violent raids.
 * 2) Buddhists light themselves on fire in view of cameras+the U.S. is embarrassed+alarmed by the Buddhist crisis.
 * 3) American officials pressure Diem to reform his government, but Diem makes no concessions.
 * 4) Early November 1963, Kennedy permits generals to assassinate DIem+establish a series of new governments.
 * 5) JFK dies.
 * 1) In his first few months in office President Lyndon Johnson sends 5,000 military advisors+preparing to send 5,000 more.
 * 2) In August president announced American destroyers in international waters had been destroyed by North Vietnamese torpedo boats.
 * 3) Congress passes with overwhelming consensus the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, authorizing the president to take whatever actions necessary to protect American forces in Vietnam+prevent further aggression in Southeast Asia.
 * 1) Capture of Saigon by North Vietnamese army in April officially ended the Vietnam war.
 * 1) ﻿Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee begins highly publicized and aired criticisms of the Vietnam war.



= 1967 = =** 1968 **= =Lasting Effects of the Vietnam War: Massive Casualties(estimates are between 1 million-3 million in total). Over 50,000 American servicemen were killed and 20,000-300,000Cambodians were killed; 20,000-200,000 Laotians killed. Americans chose a conservative for president in 1968 and claimed they wanted stability.=
 * 1) End of 1967= ﻿Any identifiable target of importance to North Korea is destroyed. American students opposed to the war become a major force.
 * 2) Robert E. Kennedy joins Fulbright in opposing President Johnson's policies. **Adding Kennedy gave the opposition more "credibility" and also showed how unhappy the American people had become over the war. Robert Kennedy the brother of the legendary John F. Kennedy had opposed a war that many Americans felt John had supported, but had gotten so out of hand that Americans wanted to quickly exit the conflict.**
 * 1) ﻿January 31, 1968 Viet Cong launches Tet offensive on Southern Vietnam. **The shooting of a Viet Cong captive destroyed support for the war.**
 * 2) Americans intervene and stop Viet Congs. It was a military victory for U.S., but political defeat for the administration, a defeat from which it would never recover.
 * 3) Robert Kennedy is assassinated.
 * 4) Richard Nixon elected president as a result of the conservative response of Americans to the growing instability brought about by an era of liberalism.