The Vietnam War, which lasted from 1954 to 1975, was a conflict between communist North Vietnam and South Vietnam. This conflict occurred under the umbrella of the Cold War, so in many ways the clash of political ideologies between the communist Soviet Union and the democratic United States was the highlight as the two superpowers used the smaller nations as their proxies in a political battle. Protests were common across the United States as leftist groups, peace activists, and students expressed their displeasure with America’s involvement in the war. With the United States backing South Vietnam, it was predicted and expected that the war would not last very long, but in 1968 this view was shattered. North Vietnam launched an offensive attack known as the Tet Offensive that threatened to prolong the war indefinitely. Protests reached a new level, with more organized marches, anti-war literature, and anti-war songs.