The Vietnam War began as a civil conflict between the communist North and anti-communist South. The United States initially provided military aid to the South, but in 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson authorized Operation Rolling Thunder, a bombing campaign against North Vietnamese targets.
As the war intensified, the US military presence grew. The Tet Offensive in 1968 marked a turning point, as it became clear that the conflict was not going to be won quickly or easily. The US suffered heavy losses during this period, and public opinion began to turn against the war.
In 1973, the Paris Peace Accords were signed, officially ending US involvement in the war. However, fighting continued between North and South Vietnam. In April 1975, communist forces captured Saigon, marking the end of the war.