Which event prompted the U.S. to rethink its strategy in Vietnam?

The Tet Offensive was a key turning point in the U.S. strategy in Vietnam. Launched by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces in January 1968 during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year (Tet), the offensive involved a series of coordinated attacks on more than 100 cities and outposts throughout South Vietnam. Despite being a military failure for the North Vietnamese, the scale and surprise of the offensive had a profound psychological impact on the American public and policymakers.

Prior to the Tet Offensive, the prevailing narrative in the U.S. was that American forces were making significant progress in the war. However, the images of the offensive, including battles in the U.S. Embassy in Saigon and frantic fighting in cities across South Vietnam, contradicted official statements about the war being nearly won. The graphic media coverage of the conflict began to shift public opinion, leading many Americans to question the effectiveness of U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

This event ultimately prompted a reassessment of U.S. military strategy, leading to the eventual implementation of Vietnamization, which aimed to reduce American involvement by shifting more responsibility for the war onto South Vietnamese forces. Overall, the Tet Offensive is often recognized as a catalyst that shifted U.S. strategy from one of escalation toward a more exit-focused