Why was the Tet Offensive a turning point in the Vietnam War?
1 Answer
It had a huge psychological impact on an already doubting American public.
Explanation:
Before Tet the American government and public were being told by the military that aggressive search and destroy tactics were winning the war.
When the Vietcong launched Tet, during the Chinese New Year in January 1968, they switched their offensive to South Vietnam's cities.
Militarily Tet was a defeat for the communists but psychologically it was a victory. The images shown on American televisions including the Vietcong occupying the US embassy in Saigon, the destruction of the ancient city of Hue and the impact of napalm on civilians undermined everything the US public had been told about imminent success. It also raised serious moral issues about the impact and conduct of the war on innocent civilians.
It also raised doubts in the minds of key American administrators. The newly appointed Defence Secretary Clark Clifford tried to get clear answers to basic questions he asked the Pentagon. Having failed to get satisfactory responses he advised Johnson to get out of Vietnam as it was "a real loser."
