The Vietnam War began as a conflict between communist North Vietnam and its southern allies, the Viet Cong, against South Vietnam and its ally, the United States. The U.S. goal was to contain communism and support South Vietnam, while North Vietnam aimed to unify Vietnam under communist rule. After the French withdrawal in 1954, the U.S. involvement escalated throughout the 1960s. Despite massive U.S. bombing campaigns and troop increases, the 1968 Tet Offensive showed the war was unwinnable. Growing anti-war sentiment and the release of the Pentagon Papers undermined support for the war. The U.S. withdrew under the 1973 Paris Peace Accords, and North Vietnam unified Vietnam in 1975. Over 58