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
The United States Enters the War
- 1962: Strategic Hamlets Program
- 1964: General Khahn stages coup
- 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.