Saigon during the Tet Offensive, 1968. Department of Defense, U.S. 1968. Vietnam Era
Critical Thinking Questions:
 
 
  1. The Vietnam War was the first time Americans back home in the U.S. witnessed a war through the medium of television. How do you think this affected the public's perception of how the war progressed and, ultimately, their feelings about U.S. involvement in Vietnam?




  2. The following is a statement from the Pentagon papers on the Tet Offensive, partially shown in the video: "The initial attack nearly succeeded in a dozen places, and defeat in those places was only averted by the timely reaction of U.S. forces. In short, it was a very near thing." What were the North Vietnamese military and political objectives in waging a series of defeats on the Americans in cities throughout South Vietnam?




  3. Why do you think the attack on the U.S. Embassy captured the imagination of the media, specifically of the U.S. and its allies, and the battle became symbolic of the Tet Offensive throughout the world?




  4. What had the outcome of the Tet Offensive shown the Americans about the strength and determination of their enemy?




  5. What were President Johnson's options at this turning point? What do you think eventually convinced President Johnson that a change of course in the Vietnam War was inevitable?
 
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