Final answer:
The Tet Offensive was a turning point in the Vietnam War that highlighted the Vietcong's resilience to US and South Vietnamese forces and led to diminished American public support for the continued military presence in Vietnam, prompting efforts to initiate peace talks.
Step-by-step explanation:
The impact of the Tet Offensive on the Vietnamese people was multifaceted. While initially a military failure for the Vietcong, given their suffered losses, it had a significant psychological impact. The Tet Offensive exposed the vulnerability and limitations of the US and South Vietnamese forces, despite earlier US military claims of nearing victory. This surprise attack during the Tet Lunar New Year holiday shattered the perception of US invincibility and led to diminished US public support for the war effort.
The offensive also demonstrated the bankruptcy of US military's public narrative that the Viet Cong had been largely defeated, which in turn caused many Americans to rethink the legitimacy and progress of the war. The execution of prisoners by South Vietnamese leaders, widely televised, called into question the moral high ground of the US alliance. As the battles progressed, American society began to face the harsh realities of the war, with growing opposition and demands for troop withdrawal. Ultimately, President Johnson initiated peace talks in response to this turning tide of public opinion and to commence the process of ending the war.