Hmong Timeline

Oral History Project

Timeline of Hmong History

3000 B.C.-Hmong in China

2700 B.C.- Historians speculate that the Hmong were inhabiting the Yellow River Valley in China. The Hmong and the Chinese began to have contact as the Chinese population grew and encroached upon traditional Hmong territories.

1027 B.C-1279 A.D.-There were records of the Hmong in Chinese records.

1796-Hmong King Sonom is killed.

1810-Hmong begin to move to Indochina.

1810-1840-The Hmong begin to cross into the highland regions of Northern Laos. The mountains would provide security for the Hmong people. This represents their first major diaspora.

1840- Major Movement of Hmong into Laos.

1893- French establish a protectorate into Laos.

1896- Hmong revolt over French taxes.

1919- Hmong Mad Man's War in opposition to French.

1936-Chongtou Lo, the son of Lo Bliayao, takes over his fathers duties as Kaitong. However, due to his ineffectiveness he was replaced by his brother in law, Ly Fong. Ly Fong's ascension to the position of Kaitong would eventually lead to clan conflict pitting the Lo Clan against the Ly Clan.

1938- Touby LyFong is appointed kaitong by French.

1936-1945-During WW II, the Japanese controlled much of Southeast Asia, including Laos. The Lo Clan chose to support the Japanese occupation of Laos, while the Ly Clan favored the return of the French to Laos.

1945-As WW II comes to an end, the French resumed control over Laos.

1952-Catholic missionary Father Yves Betrais and two American linguists, Dr. Williams Smalley and Dr. Linwood Barney, developed a Hmong writing system based on the Roman Popular Alphabet (RPA).

1954-The French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu; Laos gained their independence and became a member of the United Nations.

Late 1950's-American Green Berets begin arriving in Laos to assist in the struggle against the communist forces.

1960-Lo Fong, a leader in the Pathet Lao, created the Lao-Hmong alphabet.
- Kong Le coup d' etat United States begins "Secret War" for Laos.

1961-1973-The Hmong, led by General Vang Pao, assist the United States in the struggle against communist expansion in Southeast Asia. This conflict has come to be known as the "Secret War," as result of the clandestine efforts of the United States CIA.

1962-The Geneva Accords reaffirm that Laos is a neutral country in the widening conflict in Southeast Asia.

1964- North Vietnamese and Pathet Lao occupy Plaine des Jarres.

1965-The United States began to provide air support for Hmong forces in Laos. The Hmong soldiers rescued downed American pilots, provided valuable reconnaissance information, and launched attacks against the Ho Chi Minh.

1967- U.S. installs air guidance equipment in Laos Hmong, U.S. continue to resist Pathet Lao and NVA.

1973-A cease-fire agreement was signed between the Royal Lao Government and the Pathet Lao in Vientiane.

1975-As the Americans completed their withdrawal from Southeast Asia, the Pathet Lao takes control of Laos.
- General Vang Pao and many of his officers were airlifted from Long Cheng to Namphong, Thailand.
- The first groups of Hmong refugees arrived in Namphong, Thailand. While in Thailand, the Hmong would be forced to reside in refugee camps.

1975-1978- The United States experience the first wave of Southeast Asian immigration.

1976-Hmong refugees at Namphong are moved to Ban Vinai.
-The first Hmong individuals began arriving in Wausau with the assistance of various organizations.
- LPDR and People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) began the use of chemical-biological toxin warfare against the Hmong in Laos.

1978-2003-This period of time is labeled as the second wave of Southeast Asian migration to the United States.

1978-The Pathet Lao dropped a chemical agent called," Yellow Rains," on Hmong villages in the Phou Bia region.

1980- United Nations adopted a resolution to investigate the use of chemical-biological warfare in Laos, Cambodia and Afghanistan

1981- Western scientists detected chemical agents used against the Hmong and others were from the Soviet Union.
- General Vang Pao asked for an investigation into the use of chemicals against the Hmong.
- The United Nations voted for an investigation of the use of chemicals in Laos.
- The United States held hearings on the use of chemicals in Laos.

1982-1984- Secondary migration of Hmong within the U.S.

1983-The Wausau Area Hmong Association established.

1984- Nova's The Mystery of Yellow Rain aired. The pro-Meselson bee-dung theory was presented.

1985-Reports developed that said the Thai government had begun to repatriate the Hmong refugees to Laos.

1991-Laos, Thailand, and the United Nations signed an agreement to repatriated Hmong refugees to Laos.

1993- Hmong refugees flee Thai refugee camps rather than be repatriated. 10,000 Hmong seek refuge in Thai Buddhist temple.

1995-Representative Steve Gunderson (WI) and Representative Christopher Smith (NJ) began a five-man fact-finding mission to Thailand. They wanted information concerning repatriation and various atrocities. Their findings confirmed the information that had previously been considered rumors.
- All refugee camps in Thailand were closed.

1996-A census found that the Hmong population of Wausau was 4,200, approximately eleven percent of the total population. The Hmong represent the largest ethnic group in the Wausau area.
- Repatriation of Hmong is stops.

1997-Hmong veterans were recognized in Washington D.C. for their efforts during the Vietnam War.

1998- 4,660 Hmong living in Central Wisconsin.

2000-Representative David Obey (WI) co-sponsored a bill that made it easier for the Hmong refugees to become American citizens.

2002-The first Hmong senator, Senator Mee Moua, was elected in St. Paul, Minnesota.

2003-Minneapolis high school students march to the state capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota. Their group is known as the Asian Coalition Against Tobacco. (ACAT)