Cold War: How and why America got out of Vietnam Return to the case study menu
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Comprehension
4a Why was the Tet Offensive such a shock?
4b Note down two examples which show that the USA needed to increase its commitment to Vietnam if it was going to win the war there.
4c Select two examples which show the effect of the war on America.
4d What evidence is there that the USA was using all its might against North Vietnam?
4e In what ways were the American military being held back?

Analysis and Interpretation
4f Does the tone of this source tell historians about the effects of the war on attitudes of the military leaders?
4g What clues does this source give about the relative strength of
  • the US forces
  • the South Vietnamese
  • the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese?

Case Study Question
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The Big Question
Look at your answers to the questions on source 4.
What does Source 4 suggest about why the USA found it hard to get out of Vietnam?
Does it provide evidence of military, political or both types of factors?
 Source 1Source 2Source 3Source 4Source 5Source 6Source 7Source 8

US Secretary of Defence Clark Clifford on the impact of the Tet Offensive, 1968 (Council on Foreign Affairs)

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US Secretary of Defence Clark Clifford on the impact of the Tet Offensive, 1968