Question

The 1968 Tet offensive

Select one:
a. was a major political defeat for President Lyndon Johnson.
b. was a military victory, in terms of the physical battles, for the United States.
c. permanently depleted the ranks of the NLF.
d. both was a major political defeat for President Lyndon Johnson, and was a substantial military victory for the United States.
e. All these answers are correct.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

The answer is:

d. both was a major political defeat for President Lyndon Johnson and was a substantial military victory for the United States.

The 1968 Tet Offensive was a major political defeat for President Lyndon Johnson because it undermined public confidence in the U.S. government's handling of the Vietnam War. The coordinated attacks by the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong during the Tet holiday demonstrated that the enemy was capable of launching large-scale offensives and posed a significant threat.

At the same time, the Tet Offensive was also a substantial military victory for the United States. Despite initial surprise and heavy casualties, U.S. and South Vietnamese forces successfully repelled the attacks and inflicted heavy losses on the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong. The offensive marked a turning point in the war, as it revealed the resilience and capabilities of American forces and weakened the enemy's military capacity.

Therefore, option d accurately reflects the dual impact of the Tet Offensive as a major political defeat for President Lyndon Johnson and a substantial military victory for the United States.