The outcome of the Vietnam War for the United States was a significant military and political defeat. Officially ending in 1975, the war resulted in the withdrawal of U.S. troops and the fall of Saigon to North Vietnamese forces, leading to the unification of Vietnam under communist control. The conflict caused deep societal divisions in the U.S., generating widespread protests and a re-examination of American foreign policy. Domestically, the war increased public cynicism toward the government and institutions, leading to greater scrutiny of U.S. military interventions abroad. The repercussions of the war influenced U.S. foreign policy for decades, promoting a more cautious approach in international military engagements.