The Korean WarThe Korean WarObjective: Explain how the Korean Objective: Explain how the Korean

War began and trace the course War began and trace the course through the cease-fire; through the cease-fire;

Conflict in KoreaConflict in Korea►Following WWII the US and Soviet Following WWII the US and Soviet

Union both took control of Korea (a Union both took control of Korea (a former Japanese colony) former Japanese colony)

►Korea was divided at the 38Korea was divided at the 38thth parallel parallel into North and South Koreainto North and South Korea

► June 25, 1950 – North Korea invaded June 25, 1950 – North Korea invaded and took control of most of the south and took control of most of the south hoping to unite the countryhoping to unite the country

United States RespondsUnited States Responds►President Truman thought Soviets President Truman thought Soviets

backed the attack and takes action but backed the attack and takes action but does not declare wardoes not declare war

►Truman sends American forces to Korea Truman sends American forces to Korea and asks U.N.to take actionand asks U.N.to take action

►U.N. told North Korea to remove its U.N. told North Korea to remove its army; it did notarmy; it did not

►U.N. agreed to send soldiers; most under U.N. agreed to send soldiers; most under the command of General MacArthurthe command of General MacArthur

►Troops took port city of Inch’on then Troops took port city of Inch’on then moved to the capital city of South moved to the capital city of South Korea – SeoulKorea – Seoul

►Pushing from there, they moved the Pushing from there, they moved the North Koreans back across the 38North Koreans back across the 38thth parallelparallel

MacArthur Presses the AttackMacArthur Presses the Attack►MacArthur requests an invasion into North MacArthur requests an invasion into North

Korea; Truman receives approval from the Korea; Truman receives approval from the U.N.U.N.

►China sees advancing troops as a threat China sees advancing troops as a threat and hundreds of thousands of soldiers to and hundreds of thousands of soldiers to fightfight

►Chinese soldiers push U.N. forces back into Chinese soldiers push U.N. forces back into South KoreaSouth Korea

► Jan., 1951 – Communists captured Seoul; Jan., 1951 – Communists captured Seoul; control would change several timescontrol would change several times

American Leadership SplitsAmerican Leadership Splits►1951 – U.N. forces push North Korea back 1951 – U.N. forces push North Korea back

againagain►War becomes a stalemateWar becomes a stalemate►Stalemate – neither side gains much Stalemate – neither side gains much

ground; lasted for almost 2 yearsground; lasted for almost 2 years►MacArthur wants to use atomic bombs in MacArthur wants to use atomic bombs in

China to destroy supply lines and bases; China to destroy supply lines and bases; Truman fears this would lead to a larger Truman fears this would lead to a larger warwar

►MacArthur criticizes Truman; sends MacArthur criticizes Truman; sends letter to Congress stating he was letter to Congress stating he was being stopped from doing his jobbeing stopped from doing his job

►April, 1951 – Truman removed April, 1951 – Truman removed MacArthur for disobedienceMacArthur for disobedience

►Public protested decisionPublic protested decision

The Fighting EndsThe Fighting Ends► July, 1951 – talks begin to end the warJuly, 1951 – talks begin to end the war► July, 1953 – cease-fire agreement was July, 1953 – cease-fire agreement was

reachedreached►Demilitarized Zone set up between Demilitarized Zone set up between

North and South Korea – no military North and South Korea – no military forces allowed; stretched along border forces allowed; stretched along border near the 38near the 38thth parallel parallel

►No clear winner; hardly any territory had No clear winner; hardly any territory had changed handschanged hands

►More than 36,000 Americans killed; More than 36,000 Americans killed; 103,000 wounded 103,000 wounded

►2 million Koreans and Chinese killed2 million Koreans and Chinese killed

Summary and ActivitySummary and Activity►How did the dividing of Korea lead to How did the dividing of Korea lead to

conflict?conflict?►Why did Truman seek U.N. approval?Why did Truman seek U.N. approval?►Why did President Truman fire General Why did President Truman fire General

MacArthur?MacArthur?Activity Suggestions: Illustrate the division Activity Suggestions: Illustrate the division

of North and South Korea; create a of North and South Korea; create a poster announcing the end of the conflictposter announcing the end of the conflict