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The effects of the war in Vietnam on the US and its citizens include damage to the economy, an amendment to the voting age, and a lessened public trust in the government. The US poured approximately 168 billion into the war. Johnson's unwillingness to increase taxes to help meet the cost lead to an increase in inflation, which drastically increased food and oil prices. It was argued that it was unfair that boys could be drafted into the army at the age of 18, forced to risk their lives, without being able to vote, so the 26th Amendment was passed in 1971, lowering the voting age to 18. Lastly, after the war many people felt that the government had gone too far, for too long, so things such as the President's complete access to power through the Tonkin Gulf Resolution caused many people to become cynical and lose trust in the government.

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On January 27, 1973, The US, Vietcong, and South Vietnamese signed “An Agreement Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam” in Paris. It entailed a cease-fire throughout Vietnam, the US withdrawal of all U.S. troops and advisors, and the release all U.S. and other prisoners of war by the North Vietnamese. For the US, the war was officially over.

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The Vietcong launched attacks on hundreds of cities throughout Southern Vietnam on January 31, 1968, the Vietnamese New Year. These attacks became known as the Tet Offensive. Though the conquered cities were quickly won back, the Tet Offensive did serious damage--through the loss of morale and determination in the US that ensued. This event was a turning point. After years of steady escalation, the US started to gradually remove itself from the war.

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On February 7, 1965, a small group of Vietcong troops attacked an airbase at Pleiku, killing a total of 9 US soldiers in the assault. Due to poor communication in the Vietcong army, they were unaware that high level US military advisors had been sent to Pleiku. US officials thought that the attack had been made while the advisors were present to send a message, so Johnson ordered bombing strikes against the North Vietnamese. Three days later the Vietcong attacked Qui Nhon. This attack resulted in 23 US soldiers dead, 21 wounded. Following the attack, Johnson devised a more extensive bombing campaign that became known as "Rolling Thunder." After a series of unsuccessful peace talks, the US continued its military escalation by committing ground forces as well.

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Up to this point in time, the US supported Southern Vietnam, but was not directly involved in conflicts. The US destroyer Maddox was part of a surveillance operation of sorts. On August 2, 1964, Northern Vietnamese boats attacked the Maddox which promptly returned fire, sinking one of the attacking vessels. After hearing about this incident, President Johnson sent a warning to North Vietnamese leaders. The next day the Maddox returned to the same area. It was raining and visibility was poor, but sonar and radar readings seemed to indicate another attack.
After hearing about the latest "attack," Johnson sought support from Congress. This request lead to the acceptance of the Tonkin Gulf Resolution which gave him permission to "take all necessary steps," as long as he determined the "peace and security of the area" to be at stake.

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Rather than allow communism to seize the entirety of Vietnam, the US supported anti-communist Diem's leadership in Southern Vietnam. Rather than risk having a communist leader elected, the US supported Diem's decision not to hold the election that was mandated by the Geneva Conference. The support of the US also came in the form of over $1 billion in aid--both economic and military. As the years progressed, the US became less and less enamored with Diem as he acted more and more like a dictator. In 1963, the US allowed a coup against the government to take place so long as the new government remained hostile towards communism so on November 2, 1963, the government was overthrown and Diem was assassinated.

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The British and the Soviet Union both wanted the war to end so they convinced the other participants/ contributors in the conflict to attend a peace conference. The conference took place in Geneva in the spring of 1954.

Participating parties: Britain, Soviet Union, France, Democratic Republic of Vietnam (Vietminh), US, Chinese People’s Republic, (FR supported) Republic of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia.

(US thoughts: The US, in maintaining its policy of containment, did not want to allow any concessions to communist powers. The Domino Theory suggested that if one country were to fall to communism, others around it would fall as well and capitalism would face increased threats. With those philosophies in mind, the US was willing to add military support if Britain and France would assist, but Britain was opposed to an increase in aggression and France did not want to relinquish colonial claims on Vietnam as was stipulated by the US.)

The conference resulted in a division of Vietnam at the 17th parallel, a cessation of hostilities and called for elections across Vietnam, seeking to unite the two sides. The French withdrew from Vietnam, but the US began contributing economic aid and military “advisors”.

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French General Navarre devised a plan that involved relying more on Southern Vietnamese troops and using strategic positions to restrict the movement of the Vietminh. In conjunction with this plan (which became known as the Navarre plan), in November of 1953, General Navarre ordered six battalions of troops to be positioned in Dienbienphu to cut off Vietcong movement into and through Laos. General Giap of the Vietminh positioned his troops in the surrounding hills from which they were able to trap the French. This battle, which concluded in French surrender on May 7, 1954 to the Vietminh, caused a severe loss of morale for the French, and a loss of will to continue in the struggle in Vietnam.

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The French administration in Vietnam began in the late 1800s, and held full power over the Indochina regions until World War II. During the war France permitted Japanese troops to be stationed in Indochina. Both sides cooperated until early 1945 when the Japanese removed the French administration from power. At this point a nationalist alliance with Communist backing was formed within northern Vietnam. This group became known as the Vietminh. When the Japanese surrendered in late 1945,  the leader of the Viet Minh, Ho Chi Minh, declared Vietnam's independence from France. Temporary agreements were made between the two powers, but by 1950 they had collapsed and the military conflict began.