The Tet Offensive contributed to which change in U.S. public opinion?

• A. Increased support for the war
• B. No effect on opinions
• C. Turned public opinion against the war
• D. Led to immediate peace negotiations without conditions

Answer: (C)

The main idea this question tests is how a dramatic event can reshape public opinion about a war. The Tet Offensive showed a large, coordinated push by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces, and the way it unfolded in Vietnam contrasted sharply with the government’s hopeful messages that the war was nearing success. When Americans saw on television the scale of the fighting and the surprise attacks across cities, many began to doubt that the U.S. was winning or even close to victory. That disconnect created a credibility problem for leaders who had been promising progress, fueling a shift in public mood from support to opposition and increasing calls to de-escalate and pursue negotiations. So, even though the offensive was a military setback for the Communists, its political impact helped turn public opinion against the war.