U.S. policy debates and justifications for the Vietnam War (1954–1975)

1. Eisenhower frames Indochina risk as “domino theory”

   Apr 7, 1954Labels: Dwight D, Domino theory

   • HISTORY Domino

2. Geneva Accords divide Vietnam at 17th parallel

   Jul 21, 1954Labels: Geneva Accords, Vietnam 17th

   • Geneva Conf
   • Britannica SEATO

3. SEATO treaty signed, extending “protocol” protection

   Sep 8, 1954Labels: SEATO, Manila treaty

   • Britannica SEATO

4. U.S. MAAG role deepens in South Vietnam

   Nov 1, 1955Labels: MAAG Vietnam, U S

   • CMH Vietnam
   • MAAG

5. Herbicide campaign begins with Operation Ranch Hand

   Jan 10, 1962Labels: Operation Ranch, herbicide campaign

   • HISTORY Ranch
   • VVMF AO

6. Tonkin Gulf incident fuels escalation arguments

   Aug 4, 1964Labels: USS Maddox, Gulf of

   • Britannica Tonkin
   • Natl Archives

7. Congress passes Tonkin Gulf Resolution

   Aug 7, 1964Labels: Tonkin Gulf, U S

   • Natl Archives
   • Tonkin Res

8. Operation Rolling Thunder starts sustained bombing of North

   Mar 2, 1965Labels: Operation Rolling, strategic bombing

   • USAF Museum
   • Rolling Thunder

9. First major U.S. ground combat troops land at Da Nang

   Mar 8, 1965Labels: Da Nang, U S

   • HISTORY Da Nang
   • AP History

10. Tet Offensive undermines optimistic U.S. war narratives

    Jan 31, 1968Labels: Tet Offensive, Viet Cong

    • Britannica Tet
    • HISTORY Tet

11. Secret U.S. bombing of Cambodia begins (Operation Menu)

    Mar 18, 1969Labels: Operation Menu, Cambodia bombing

    • HISTORY Cambodia
    • Menu

12. Nixon appeals to “silent majority” for Vietnam policy support

    Nov 3, 1969Labels: Richard Nixon, Vietnamization

    • HISTORY Nixon
    • Nixon Speech

13. Kent State shootings intensify U.S. domestic war crisis

    May 4, 1970Labels: Kent State, Ohio National

    • Kent State
    • AP Kent

14. Congress repeals Tonkin Gulf Resolution authority

    Jan 12, 1971Labels: Congress repeal, Gulf of

    • FMS Act
    • Tonkin Res

15. Pentagon Papers publication exposes long-running policy deception claims

    Jun 13, 1971Labels: Pentagon Papers, New York

    • AP Papers
    • PBS Chron

16. Operation Linebacker II pressures North Vietnam back to talks

    Dec 18, 1972Labels: Operation Linebacker, Hanoi bombing

    • AFHSO
    • Linebacker II

17. Paris Peace Accords signed, ending direct U.S. war role

    Jan 27, 1973Labels: Paris Peace, Cease-fire agreement

    • HISTORY Paris
    • Paris Accords

18. War Powers Resolution enacted over Nixon veto

    Nov 7, 1973Labels: War Powers, U S

    • Britannica WPR

19. Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War’s U.S. project

    Apr 30, 1975Labels: Fall of, North Vietnamese

    • Britannica Saigon
    • Fall of Saigon