To what extent can the Tet Offensive of 1968 be described as a key turning point in the Vietnam War in the Years 1963-73? (30 marks) Essay Example
To what extent can the Tet Offensive of 1968 be described as a key turning point in the Vietnam War in the Years 1963-73? (30 marks)
The Tet Offensive could be described as a key turning point because it shook USA’s confidence in winning the war, both sides changed their tactics and also because it led to a decrease of support for the war in the USA. However there were many other key turning points such as the Gulf of Tonkin incident, the attack at Pleiku and the Battle of Ac Bac. Overall the Tet Offensive could be described as a key turning point compared with the others.
The Tet Offensive could be described as a key turning point because it made the USA become reluctant to increase their involvement in the war. During the Tet Offensive 1969 the Vietcong came out of their Guerrilla Warfare and attacked cities such as the US embassy in Saigon. This was humiliating for the USA because they were surprised by the attack and because the Vietcong came close to taking over the main building. This was a turning point because it was at this point the USA realised they were not winning the war; the Vietcong to them seemed to be becoming increasingly powerful. Although it was a military win for the US e.g. 14640 US troops were killed compared to the 50000 lost by the Vietcong, it was psychological defeat for the USA. The Tet Offensive was a key turning point as it was one of the factors that led to the US policy of Veitnamisation.
The Tet Offensive could also be described as a key turning point because it caused both sides to change tactics. For example the Vietcong reverted back to Guerrilla Warfare after the attack and the USA seemed to be doing the same, they were now using small unit acts instead of large unit sweeps of ‘Search and Destroy’. This was a turning a point because the USA realised they needed to changed tactics, this implied they felt like what they had done previously was not enough to win the war, again it shook their confidence. Another change
The Tet Offensive could be described as a key turning point because it shook USA’s confidence in winning the war, both sides changed their tactics and also because it led to a decrease of support for the war in the USA. However there were many other key turning points such as the Gulf of Tonkin incident, the attack at Pleiku and the Battle of Ac Bac. Overall the Tet Offensive could be described as a key turning point compared with the others.
The Tet Offensive could be described as a key turning point because it made the USA become reluctant to increase their involvement in the war. During the Tet Offensive 1969 the Vietcong came out of their Guerrilla Warfare and attacked cities such as the US embassy in Saigon. This was humiliating for the USA because they were surprised by the attack and because the Vietcong came close to taking over the main building. This was a turning point because it was at this point the USA realised they were not winning the war; the Vietcong to them seemed to be becoming increasingly powerful. Although it was a military win for the US e.g. 14640 US troops were killed compared to the 50000 lost by the Vietcong, it was psychological defeat for the USA. The Tet Offensive was a key turning point as it was one of the factors that led to the US policy of Veitnamisation.
The Tet Offensive could also be described as a key turning point because it caused both sides to change tactics. For example the Vietcong reverted back to Guerrilla Warfare after the attack and the USA seemed to be doing the same, they were now using small unit acts instead of large unit sweeps of ‘Search and Destroy’. This was a turning a point because the USA realised they needed to changed tactics, this implied they felt like what they had done previously was not enough to win the war, again it shook their confidence. Another change