2. 1954
The French lost a
major battle to
Communist leader
Ho Chi Minh
in 1954
@ Dien Bien Phu
3. 1963
1963: JFK supports
the removal of South
Vietnam’s President
Ngo Dinh Diem. They
are murdered (Nov. 2)
Kennedy was
assassinated just
weeks later (Nov. 22)
4. 1964
Tonkin Gulf Incident
1964
led to the …Tonkin
Gulf Resolution
“The Blank Check” *
giving permission to
President Johnson to
wage war to stop
Communist North
Vietnam from taking
over South Vietnam
7. 1968
TET Offensive
– Surprise attacks by
Viet Cong
Communists in South
Vietnam
– Military failure for
Communists BUT a
HUGE psychological
VICTORY for them
because the American
people thought the war
was UNWINNABLE
– Public Opinion goes
against the war
9. 1973
War Powers Act,
1973 ٭
President must notify
Congress within 48
hours of deploying
military force
President must
withdraw forces
unless he gains
Congressional
approval within 90
days