Let's create a Vietnam War timeline!
I'll go first! Each person has to post something from the Vietnam War in the same year or following year as the person before them. For example:
1954-President Eisenhower explains the domino theory in regards to southeast Asia. He says, "You have a row of dominoes set up. You knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is the certainty that it will go over very quickly." He uses this to justify the involvement in Vietnam.
Now, the next person has to post something else from 1954 or something from 1955.
Have fun! I've missed my APUSHers!
Mrs. Demmel
May 7, 1954- French forces were defeated by the army of Ho Chi Minh at Dien Bien Phu. The Vietnamese victory came after a 55-day battle between the Viet Minh army led by General Vo Nguyen Giap and French forces led by General Henri Navarre. Since World War II, the French had been fighting to maintain control of their former colonial possession, French Indochina. The violence had escalated in 1949 as France tried to tighten its control in the region. In November 1953, the French had hoped to bring the increasing guerilla-like conflict out of the jungle by taking the strategic post of Dien Bien Phu. Casualties were heavy on both sides. The French lost 3,000 troops while the Vietnamese lost 8,000. This defeat marked the end of France’s determination to retain Indochina. A few months later, a conference in Geneva split Vietnam along the 17th parallel as France withdrew from Vietnam.
ReplyDeleteSources:
Delete"Battlefield: Timeline." PBS. PBS, 2014. Web. 19 Apr. 2014.
"French Defeated at Dien Bien Phu." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2014. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
Moïse, Edwin E. "The Geneva Accords." VN Wars: First Indochina War. Clemson University, 4 Nov. 1998. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.
July 21, 1954
ReplyDeleteThe Geneva Accords creates a cease-fire for the peaceful withdrawal of the French troops from Vietnam and creates a temporary boundary between North and South Vietnam at the 17th parallel. This allowed both sides to re-gather their man and women, Rebuild their defenses, heal their wounded and prepare for a battle again. The conference in Geneva Switzerland also planned to settle disputes on the Korean Peninsula, and the peace in indo china. Leaders of the Soviet Union, United States of America, France, Great Britain, and the Peoples Republic of China. These leaders had different opinions but agreed on some topics.
In October of 1955, Ngo Dinh Diem becomes the president of South Vietnam through a rigged election. Because he was pro-American, the American government back and supported him. They even helped train his army. However, he was a rather ineffective president, so the number of his opponents grew and there were more and more protests against him. Some Buddhists even set themselves on fire in protest. He was later assassinated in 1963.
ReplyDelete1956 - A crucial point in Vietnamese history. In December, the people of South Vietnam launched their first attack on the French, who had occupied Vietnam for the past century. 30,000 Vietnamese fought against the French in Hanoi - the capital of Vietnam. This event began the 8-year long struggle known as the First Indochina War, which was characterized by the French negotiations with Vietnam to allow troops to stay, but to recognize Vietnam as a free republic.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid that you are terribly confused, Mohika....
DeleteApril 1956
ReplyDeleteOn par with the Geneva Accords, the remaining French troops withdraw from the area completely. Overseeing responsibility is then transferred to the United States, and, following agreements made earlier in the year, all US aid is directed to South Vietnam. Military responsibility is also passed on the the US forces, and the Military Assistance Advisor Group takes over training the South Vietnamese forces.
May 1957
ReplyDeleteIn the spring of 1957, Ngo Dinh Diem, elected leader of South Vietnam, made a ten-day state visit to the United States. The meeting was primarily celebratory in purpose, and no policy or strategy was planned, but Diem's enthusiastic welcome in the United States was an interesting reflection of the popular mood. Prior to the visit, Diem had been favorably depicted in American media. He was so popular he was even given a tickertape parade through Manhattan in New York and hailed as the leader of an anticommunist country in the Cold War. However, perhaps foreshadowing the subsequent gap of credibility in later government, Diem's ineffective and at times unjust leadership was not emphasized in any of the government's publications. However, Secretary of State John Foster Dulles echoed the sentiments of many high-ranking officials when he said that Diem had only taken office because there were no better alternatives.
July 11, 1957
ReplyDeleteIn 1957 in Chau Doc 17 men and women were killed by outlaws. American newspapers reported that in western Vietnam outlaws and communist spread the superstition that people who killed 20 could fly and those who killed a 100 would become angels. Pregnant women were worth ten men. Supposedly people in urban areas were less likely to believe this then people in rural areas. Whether this is true or not is questionable but it does give and insight into Americans perspective of the Vietnam and the violence in Vietnam at the time.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KFszAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_9kFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2867,2647678&dq=1957+chau+doc&hl=en
July 8, 1959
ReplyDeleteTwo American military advisors were killed by Viet Minh guerrillas in a raid at Bien Hoa, South Vietnam. These were the first two deaths of Americans in Vietnam. The two killed were providing military assistance and were part of the Military Assistance Advisory Group, which consisted of all the Armed Forces.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-americans-killed-in-south-vietnam
DeleteDecember 20, 1960
ReplyDeleteThe National Liberation Front is officially formed in North Vietnam. They are an organization that reached out to the dissatisfied Southern Vietnamese. This group included both communists and non-communists, different religious groups, and Northern and Southern Vietnamese, who were united in the goal to overthrow the Southern Vietnam government. The NLF is better known as the Viet Cong.
January 20, 1961
ReplyDeleteThe inauguration for the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy is held. In his speech, Kennedy states "...we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to insure the survival and the success of liberty." President Eisenhower tells him in private, "I think you're going to have to send troops..." to Southeast Asia. Kennedy's administration and his Secretary of Defense plays a crucial role in deciding White House strategy for Vietnam over the next several years.
1962 held several important events in the timeline of the Vietnam War. January that year, Operation Chopper became the first time US troops were involved in any major combat situations in the War. This also marked an important advance in the US Army’s air mobility, which had begun growing after the Korean War. The very next month, there was an assassination attempt on Diem, the president of South Vietnam. Two North Vietnam Air Force pilots attempted to bomb his house. Then in March, Operation Sunrise was the first organized offensive directly against Vietcong. The US planned to kill Vietcong guerrilla forces, make offensive hamlets, and help civilians with self defense.
ReplyDeleteThe year 1963 marked the passage of some small scale battles, large Buddhist protests, and the assassination of two major political figures. The Battle of Ap Bac was a small battle on January 2 that marked the first major victory of Vietcong forces against the South Vietnamese and U.S. It also resulted in a series of battles in response to the victory: the Battle of Go Cong, the Battle of Hiep Hoa, and the Battle of Chan La. In May, South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem enacted a law that banned the raising of the Buddhist flag. A stout Catholic, Diem had previously enacted oppressive laws on Buddhists and many Catholic organizations staged raids on pagodas. On May 8, a crowd of Buddhists were protesting against the law when police shot into the crowd, killing nine, and following this, a Buddhist priest Thích Quảng Đức burned himself to death. The U.S., disturbed by Diem’s actions, called the CIA to orchestrate his assassination on November 2. Only twenty days later, American President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald, a communist sympathizer, making Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson president.
ReplyDelete1964: Gulf of Tonkin Incident
ReplyDeleteOn August 2, three North Vietnamese boats allegedly fired torpedoes at the USS Maddox. The destroyer was located in the open waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, which was nearly thirty miles away from North Vietnam. A second attack against another US destroyer on August 4 was also said to have taken place. On August 7, the Gulf of Tonkin resolution was approved by congress, and it authorized the president to take all necessary measures to "repel any armed attack against forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression." The incident, itself, essentially justified the principles of this particular doctrine.
Hi Ms. Demmel! This is actually Alana, not Maddie again. I'm just at her house and using her computer and she's got like a thousand google drive related tabs open so I'm being an awesome friend and not signing her out of everything. Thanks. Bye.
ReplyDeleteFebruary 13, 1965 President Johnson authorizes Operation Rolling Thunder on North Vietnam. The operation was carried out March 2, 1965- November 1968 with several main objectives. Johnson hoped the bombings would destroy roads, supply lines and military compounds. With the destruction of these roads and supply lines it was expected hoped that all North Vietnamese support of the Southern Vietcong would cease. These bombings increased gradually in intensity over the years as the Northern Vietnam army with its communist allies' support, successfully used counter offensive tactics. Johnson hoped Operation Rolling Thunder would successfully damage North Vietnamese supplies. In the end though, the operation proved to be a strategic failure.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJanuary 8, 1966
ReplyDeleteU.S. and Australian forces start Operation Crimp, the largest joint operation of the war. 8,000 troops were deployed in an attempt to capture the Vietcong's headquarters in the Saigon area, which were believed to be located in the city of Chu Chi. The troops encountered heavy fighting and discovered a huge underground network of tunnels covering more than 120 miles. U.S. and Australian engineers began collapsing the tunnels with explosive charges. However, U.S. commanders realized that fully exploring and destroying the tunnels required much more resources than were available, and the operation was eventually stopped.
Operation Deckhouse Five occurred between January 6 and January 15 of 1967, and was the first SLF operation of the year. This operation was significant for two reasons. It was a sizable amphibious operation made with the combined efforts of both the United States Marines and the Vietnamese Marines. It was also the last SLF landing in this area. The combined forces landed on the coast between the Co Chien and Ham Luong regions in an area of suspected Viet Cong activity. though a sizable operation, it was mostly unsuccessful, killing only 21 Viet Cong.
ReplyDeleteIn January of 1968 the North Vietnamese launch Tet Offensive. This is significant becuase it completely took U.S, and South Vietnamese off guard. Although all cities that the North and Vietcong captured were recaptured by the U.S. and South Vietnamese it still showed that this war was very far from over and that the North and Vietcong could attack when and where they wanted without regard to the Americans and the South Vietnamese.
ReplyDeleteJanuary 31, 1969
ReplyDeleteTet 1969 refers to the attacks mounted by principally North Vietnamese forces in February 1969 in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, one year after the original Tet Offensive.
January 15, 1970
ReplyDeleteThe final military units from the Philippines, 1st Philippines Civic Action Force, leave South Vietnam
May 4th, 1970
ReplyDeleteArmed guards walk on to Kent state campus to calm protesters, but things begin to get out of control and the guards ended up killing a total of 4 students. This was a huge turning point for the war in the U.S, from here on, the citizens of the U.SX did not agree with what we were doing in Vietnam, and believed that would should have ended the war.