Tet Offensive

• • The North and VC launched a surprise attack on 26 cities in South during the 1968 New Year’s Tet festival
  • They captured the US embassy in Saigon
• • It shocked people in the US as they had been told they were winning the war, but as it was all reported on TV people saw that they weren’t
  • The Tet Offensive led to huge anti-war protests in America
  • It led to peace talks in 1968 which were a turning point in the war
• • the communist made significant progress before they were driven back
• did the Tet Offensive fail for the communists?

  Yes:

  • The North Vietnamese and VC were expecting the Tet to result in a revolution in South Vietnam
  • They also suffered heavy losses, as most of the VC was wiped out

  No:

  • the VC were able to rebuild their forces
  • The Tet could be used in their propaganda
  • Reaction in USA against war is victory to them
• significance on USA:

  • there was a growing anti-war feeling which would mean Congress would be less likely t fund the war
  • the Tet was the main reason for Johnson not running for president in 1968
  • the US army felt they could win with more troops but some felt the US did well and could leave
  • the US public felt cheated by the government saying the war could end soon
  • there was a huge rise in public opposition to the war
• was the Tet a failure for the USA?

  Yes:

  • the VC were able to capture American bases and may cities
  • it caused outrage at home

  No:

  • they were able to recapture cities and bases quite quickly
  • The VC suffered heavy losses and the Tet did not spark a rebellion like they thought it would