Question

What were the effects of the Tet Offensive at home and in Vietnam?

Select all that apply.

increased support for the Vietnam War in the United States

represented a major battlefield defeat for the Viet Cong

convinced US leaders they were winning the war

decreased public support for the Vietnam War

decreased the trust many Americans had in the government and military

Answer 1

Select these three:

- represented a major battlefield defeat for the Viet Cong — True. Tet inflicted heavy casualties on Viet Cong forces and destroyed much of their guerrilla infrastructure in the South, even though they launched widespread attacks.

- decreased public support for the Vietnam War — True. The scale and surprise of Tet shocked the American public and eroded backing for continued escalation.

- decreased the trust many Americans had in the government and military — True. Tet exposed a "credibility gap" between official optimistic statements and the reality on the ground, undermining trust.

Do not select:

- increased support for the Vietnam War in the United States — False.

- convinced US leaders they were winning the war — False; Tet convinced many leaders the war was not going well and led to policy shifts (e.g., de-escalation and President Johnson’s decision not to run for re-election).