Tet Offensive

Standard addressed: 9–12.2.9 Analyze the key events and political/social effects of the Vietnam conflict (e.g., Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and the Tet Offensive; protests and opposition; presidential policies, War Powers Act)

What is Tet?

•Vietnamese New Year (Arrival of spring)•Most Important celebration of their

culture•It means "Feast of the First Morning of

the First Day“

Tet Offensive •One of the largest military campaigns of

the Vietnam War•January 30, 1968•Surprise attack of the Viet Cong and the

North Vietnamese Army against the United States and allies

•Attack on the military and civilians throughout South Vietnam at their

command and control centers

Battle for Hue • Bloodiest and longest

battles in the Vietnam War

• January 30-March 3 1968

• 844 civilian deaths and 1,900 injuries

• Old capital and a sacred city

• Viet Cong initially took the city over quickly but the U.S eventually won it back

•As you watch the video think about why the Tet offensive was the turning point of the war?

•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3PIcbx35mM

American Reaction

•Turned public opinion against the war•Before this the American people were

under the impression that we were winning the war

•Lyndon Johnson did not rerun for the next election

Class Discussion/ Debate

•Even though the Viet Cong lost the battle it was a psychological win and did major damage on American support.

So who really won the Tet offensive?If you believe the American/South Vietnamese won If you believe the North Vietnamese/ Viet Cong won