Timeline 1945-1964 :: essays research papers

1945 Ho Chi Minh and his People's Congress create the National Liberation Committee of Vietnam to form a provisional government following the surrender of Japan to Allied forces and Japan transfers all power to Ho's Vietminh. President Roosevelt dies Making good on his threat to unleash "...a rain of ruin the like of which has never been seen on earth...," President Harry Truman authorizes the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan -- one on Hiroshima on August 6, and a second on Nagasaki on August 9. The Japanese surrender. Ho Declares Independence of Vietnam. British Forces Land in Saigon, Return Authority to French.1946 France recognizes Vietnam as a "free state" within the French Union. French troops replace Chinese in the North. Negotiations Between French and Vietminh Breakdown. Indochina War begins. 1947 Vietminh move north of Hanoi. Marshall Plan announced. French General Etienne Valluy attempts, and fails, to wipe out the Vietminh in one stroke. 1949 Bao Dai and President Vincent Auriol of France sign the Elysee Agreement. As part of the agreement the French pledge to assist in the building of a national anti-Communist army. NATO formed. Volkswagen introduced in US. 1950 Chinese and Soviets offer Weapons to Vietminh. Record heist in Brink's robbery. When Communist forces from North Korea invade the Republic of South Korea on June 25, President Truman appeals to the United Nations to take action. The UN quickly brands North Korea the aggressor, and Truman follows up by sending US air and naval support to Korea immediately thereafter. The United States sends $15 million dollars in military aid to the French for the war in Indochina. Included in the aid package is a military mission and military advisors. 1951 Ho Chi Minh creates Workers' Party. Truman dismisses General Douglas MacArthur . Worst floods in US History inundate Kansas and Missouri. 1953 France grants Laos full independence. Rosenbergs executed for Espionage. Vietminh forces push into Laos. 1954 A force of 40,000 heavily armed Vietminh lay siege to the French garrison at Dienbienphu. Using Chinese artillery to shell the airstrip, the Vietminh make it impossible for French supplies to arrive by air. It soon becomes clear that the French have met their match. Supreme Court rules on Brown v. Board of Education. Responding to the defeat of the French by the Vietminh at Dienbienphu, President Eisenhower outlines the Domino Theory: "You have a row of dominoes set up.