Vietnam War Turning Points

1. Why was the Tet Offensive a turning point? Explain your answer.
The Tet Offensive was a turning point in the war; while not exactly a military turning point, it was a turning point in the attitude with which Americans perceived Vietnam. After the Tet Offensive, people became very angry; it appeared that the U.S. was wasting time, money and lives in a situation where they clearly had never had the upper hand. The Offensive destroyed an ancient city; this raised more questions, such as what other precious things the war would destroy if it was allowed to continue. The Tet Offensive was not a clear victory for either the U.S. or the Viet Cong, but it was definitely a turning point within the minds of Americans.

2. Are Sources 51 and 52 making the same point about the My Lai Massacre?
Sources 51 and 52 make similar points, but not exactly the same one. Source 51 carries more remorse; it acknowledges more of the fact that they weren't meant to go to Vietnam to kill anyone, let alone civilians. There is a lot of guilt evident in Source 51; it implies that once the soldiers got to Vietnam, their view of the situation became warped and they acted without thinking. Source 52, while it also points out that the soldiers were not originally sent there to kill humans, seems to be colder about the event; it states that the soldiers saw the Vietnamese not as people, but as people who carried an evil idea that they were ordered to eradicate.

3. Why do you think it took 12 months for anyone to do anything about the massacre?
The army is often very good at covering its mistakes. The army, and the government, would not have wanted news of the massacre to get out; soldiers might have been afraid to speak up in order to avoid retribution. Also, freedom of speech is limited in times of war; everyone works to protect their country and make it look good. Soldiers may have felt that it would hinder the war effort if they let the truth out.

4. Why was the massacre so shocking to the American public?
Up until this point, Americans had not been fully aware of the bloodshed going on in Vietnam. They knew civilians were being killed, yes, but they saw it as an accident. After the My Lai massacre, the people began to turn not only against the government but against the soldiers, as well; perfectly innocent civilians had been murdered, simply because the army did not know what it was doing.