Vietnam War Turning Points

1. Why was the Tet Offensive a turning point? Explain your answer.
The Tet offensive was a turning point because it raised alot of questions in America about whether the U.S effort was worth it. Since there were so many U.S soldiers in Vietnam and the army was well equipped, how was it possoble that the viet cong was destroying the U.S with little to nothing?



2. Are Sources 51 and 52 making the same point about the My Lai Massacre?
Sources 51 and 52 do not agree because 51 shows that the my lai massacre was a mistake done by inexperianced kids while source number 52 says that the my lai was an attack on communism that was intentional.





3. Why do you think it took 12 months for anyone to do anything about the massacre?
I think the My Lai incident was ignored because of the bad publicity America was getting because of the Napalm and Agent Orange incidents. Since the Vietnam war was the first war to be televised, the horrid images of running children burning were released to the American public. This was NOT pleasing to the U.S so the last thing that America needed was another loss in support from the american peopel.



4. Why was the massacre so shocking to the American public?
This massacre was so shocking because nobody believed america would resort to the measures of killing innocent civilians including children.