Title: The Vietnam War (1945–1975): The Aftermath of the War | SparkNotes
Headings: The Vietnam War (1945–1975)
The Vietnam War (1945–1975)
History
The Aftermath of the War
Losses
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Vietnam and U.S. Society
Geopolitical Effects

Content: In neighboring Kampuchea (as Cambodia was now called), Communist dictator Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge forces began a reign of terror in the hope of creating a pre-industrial utopia, murdering around 2 million people in so-called “killing fields.” In 1978 , the SRV invaded Kampuchea to stop the Khmer Rouge. Although Vietnam’s invasion of Kampuchea put an end to the killing fields, China was threatened by Vietnam’s extension of influence in the region and began a border war with Vietnam. After decades of conflict, Vietnam found itself with the world’s fourth-largest army but one of the world’s poorest economies. In the late 1980 s and early 1990 s, it began to turn more toward capitalism and a liberal economy. Vietnam and U.S. Society
By 1975 , Vietnam was off the Gallup Poll list of top issues in the United States. Aside from concern for remaining U.S. prisoners of war (POWs) still in Vietnam, Americans became less and less concerned with events within the country. Nonetheless, the war had lasting effects. Combined with the Watergate scandal, it inspired widespread public distrust of the U.S. government and made the military less popular, at least in the short term. The draft has not been used since.