The Vietnam Wars

French Attempts to Regain Colonial Control

• 1945: Japan takes over the administration of French Indochina
  • Bao Dai declares independence under Japanese sponsorship
  •  At Potsdam Conference, British are to occupy southern Vietnam; Nationalist  to occupy northern Vietnam.
  •   Ho Chi Minh declares a provisional government.
• 1946: China and Britain return control of French Indochina to the French.
  • Ho Chi Minh goes to France to negotiate the fate of Vietnam.
  •  First Vietnam War begins.
• 1949: Bao Dai is made Emperor of Vietnam under French auspices.
• 1950:   Ho declares Democratic Republic of Vietnam an independent state.
  •  US and Britain recognize Bao Dai's government.
• 1954: French are defeated at Dienbienphu.
  • Geneva agreement.  US does not sign.
• 1955: US begins sending aid to South Vietnam
  • Diem outs Bao Dai.

The United States Enters the War

• 1962: Strategic Hamlets Program
• 1964: General Khahn stages coup
  • Tonkin Gulf Resolution
• 1965: Operation Rolling Thunder
  • First American Combat troops enter the war.
  •  Nguyen Cao Ky Prime Minister after another military coup.
  •  By year's end American troop strength at 200,000.
• 1966: Buddhist demonstrations against Saigon government
  • American troop strength at 400,000.
• 1967: American troop strength at 500,000
  • Americans and North Vietnam agree to talks.
• 1968: Tet offensive
  • Students protest at Democratic Convention.
  • American troop strength at 540,000
• 1969: Secret bombing of Cambodia
  • Vietnamization begins.
  •  American troop strength at 480,000.
  •   Ho Chi Minh dies.
• 1970: Kent State killings.
  • American troop strength at 280,000.
• 1971: American troop strength at 140,000.
• 1972:  Secret negotiations between Americans and N. Vietnamese.
• 1973: Agreement between Americans and N. Vietnamese reached.

Vietnam After the United States Withdraws

• 1975: Saigon is captured by Communist forces.

 

Primary Sources

• Declaration of Independence of VIetnam

Secondary Sources