The Vietnam War
The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, was a long and bloody conflict that lasted from 1955 to 1975. It was fought between the communist government of North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of South Vietnam, supported by the United States and other anti-communist countries. The war had its roots in the struggle for independence from French colonial rule in Vietnam, which had been divided into North and South after the French withdrawal in 1954. The North, led by Ho Chi Minh, sought to unite the country under a communist government, while the South, under the leadership of Ngo Dinh Diem, sought to maintain its separate, non-communist identity. As the North and South began to clash, the United States became increasingly involved in the conflict, ultimately sending hundreds of thousands of troops to fight in Vietnam. The war resulted in the deaths of over 1.5 million Vietnamese civilians, over 58,000 American soldiers, and countless others. The war also had a profound impact on American society, dividing the country and leaving a lasting legacy on the nation's politics, culture, and foreign policy.