The Tet Offensive January 1968

Tet Offensive, January 1968 Between 1965 to 1967, the American people were told by President Johnson and General Westmoreland that U.S. was winning the war. Most Americans supported the war up through 1967. The Tet Offensive, changed the American mindset towards the war effort and many began questioning the war policies and efficiency of U.S. military. The Tet Offensive and the fallout from it was the major turning point in the war for the U.S. After Tet, the U.S. was finding ways to get out of their commitment to SVN.

Between 1965 to 1967, the American people were told by President Johnson and General Westmoreland that U.S. was winning the war.

Most Americans supported the war up through 1967.

The Tet Offensive, changed the American mindset towards the war effort and many began questioning the war policies and efficiency of U.S. military.

The Tet Offensive and the fallout from it was the major turning point in the war for the U.S. After Tet, the U.S. was finding ways to get out of their commitment to SVN.

Strategy of the VC and N. Vietnamese Army N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously 80,000 attack 100 cities, bases and the US embassy in Saigon Take every major southern city U.S. + ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam or South Vietnamese Army) beat back the offensive Viet Cong destroyed N. Vietnamese army weakened Tet Offensive, January 1968

Strategy of the VC and N. Vietnamese Army

N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously

80,000 attack 100 cities, bases and the US embassy in Saigon

Take every major southern city

U.S. + ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam or South Vietnamese Army) beat back the offensive

Viet Cong destroyed

N. Vietnamese army weakened

1968 Tet Offensive, Jan. 30 to Feb. 24 My Lai Massacre, March 16 The Vietnam War, 1964 to 1975

1968 Tet Offensive, Jan. 30 to Feb. 24

My Lai Massacre, March 16

Impact of Tet Offensive Chart shows the highest American troop buildup up until Tet. After the Tet Offensive, U.S. Govt. was trying to find ways to get out of its military commitment to SVN Troop Levels 1968 South Vietnamese 820,000 American 536,100 Australian 7,660 New Zealand 520 South Korea 50,000 Philippines 1,580 Thailand 6,000

U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administration Johnson’s popularity dropped in 1968 from 48% to 36%. Hey, Hey LBJ! How many kids did you kill today? Impact of Tet Offensive

U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administration

Johnson’s popularity dropped in 1968 from 48% to 36%.

Hey, Hey LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?

U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administration Johnson’s popularity dropped in 1968 from 48% to 36%. Hey, Hey LBJ! How many kids did you kill today? Impact of Tet Offensive

U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administration

Johnson’s popularity dropped in 1968 from 48% to 36%.

Hey, Hey LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?

I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes, or to any duties other than the awesome duties of this office, the Presidency of your country. Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President. Johnson announces March, 1968 Impact of Tet Offensive

I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes, or to any duties other than the awesome duties of this office, the Presidency of your country.

Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.

Rich man’s war but a poor man’s fight. A disproportionate of poor and minorities fighting. Racial tensions. Severe drug problems. Low morale Officers in combat 6 mo.; in rear 6 mo. Enlisted men in combat for 12 mo. Impact of Tet Offensive

Rich man’s war but a poor man’s fight. A disproportionate of poor and minorities fighting.

Racial tensions.

Severe drug problems.

Low morale

Officers in combat 6 mo.; in rear 6 mo.

Enlisted men in combat for 12 mo.

Because of the Tet Offensive, the US media announced the US was loosing the war. Walter Cronkite , part of CBS news who opposed the war after Tet. Impact of Tet Offensive

Lt. William Calley, Platoon Leader My lai Massacre, 1968 200-500 unarmed villagers Charlie Company, 1 st Battalion, 20 th Infantry Impact of Tet Offensive Americans were in unbelief. This is what we were fighting against. So, were we becoming the enemy?

Lt. William Calley, Platoon Leader

My lai Massacre, 1968

200-500 unarmed villagers

1964 Gulf of Tonkin Incident 1965 First sustained bombing of North Vietnam 1966 U.S. air raids over Hanoi, 1966 to 1968 1968 Tet Offensive, Jan. 30 to Feb. 24 The Vietnam War, 1964 to 1975

1964 Gulf of Tonkin Incident

1965 First sustained bombing of North Vietnam

1966 U.S. air raids over Hanoi, 1966 to 1968

1968 Tet Offensive, Jan. 30 to Feb. 24

NVA and VC attack the South, January 1968 U.S. President Johnson criticized and refuses to run for a 2 nd term Americans want out of Vietnam and Anti-war movement begins massive protests against war. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated Nixon elected as President SVN With of U.S. troops, SVN Army retakes all cities and bases. But, SVN Government looses support from its people Increased bombing of North Vietnam General Westmoreland asked for more troops Peace Talks Peace talks begin after Tet to halt the bombing of North Vietnam. Peace talks fail Impact of Tet Offensive

U.S.

President Johnson criticized and refuses to run for a 2 nd term

Americans want out of Vietnam and Anti-war movement begins massive protests against war.

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated

Nixon elected as President

SVN

With of U.S. troops, SVN Army retakes all cities and bases.

But, SVN Government looses support from its people

Increased bombing of North Vietnam

General Westmoreland asked for more troops

Peace Talks

Peace talks begin after Tet to halt the bombing of North Vietnam.

Peace talks fail