The Vietnam War was a Cold War era military conflict from November 1, 1955 to the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975 between North Vietnam and other pro-communist countries and South Vietnam allied with the United States and other anti-communist countries. It was the longest running war in history and the third longest war that the United States has participated in after the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War. The United States intervened and viewed their intervention as a way to prevent the communist take over of Southern Vietnam. The U.S. involvement was initially a mere back up to the French who were there already fighting the war, the involvement began spiking as the years went on, especially in 1961 then spiking even higher just a year later in 1962. It peaked in 1968 and from there dropped slowly as the American troops were withdrawn and peace was given reign. Though there was the Paris Peace Accords that had been signed and passed, the fighting still continued.