The Vietnam War officially ended for the United States on April 30, 1975, when North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam. The conflict, which began in the late 1950s, escalated into a significant military engagement for the U.S. during the 1960s. The withdrawal of American troops started after the Paris Peace Accords were signed in January 1973, but fighting continued until the fall of Saigon. The war had a profound impact on U.S. foreign policy, society, and culture, leading to widespread protests and a reevaluation of military engagement and its consequences in global politics.