The outcome of the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War was marked by significant controversy and lasting effects. The war resulted in North Vietnam's victory over South Vietnam in 1975, leading to the reunification of Vietnam under communist control. U.S. involvement escalated through extensive military intervention, but despite substantial expenditure and troop deployment, American forces could not achieve their goals of preventing communism's spread. The war deeply divided the U.S. public, provoking widespread protests and challenging governmental authority. Its legacy includes a reassessment of foreign intervention, the impact on military strategy, and the psychological toll on veterans and American society.