The Korean WarUS History

Chapter 12, Section 2Mrs. Huston

Shifting Focus

• The US was concerned with the spread of communism in Europe

• The Soviets & the US were rivals

• Tension moved from Europe to Asia

• Korea became the issue

China

• The Soviets had been trying to spread communism around the world since their revolution in 1917

• China had been fighting its own communist revolution before being invaded by Japan in 1937

Leaders

• Chiang Kai-shek led the democratic forces

• Mao Zedong led the communist forces

Surrogate Wars

• The US and the Soviet Union were reluctant to fight each other directly

• Both sides feared the start of World War III

• Economies hadn’t recovered from WWII just concluded

China “falls”

• The Soviets supported the communist forces

• The US supported the democratic forces

• 1948 Mao’s forces dominated because the US wouldn’t give more support to the corrupt Jiang regime

Two Chinas

• The democratic forces fled to a large island off the coast of China

• Called Taiwan Nationalist China• Mao controlled the huge

mainland• Called it the People’s Republic

of China

Shock

• Americans were scared• Communism controlled a huge

amount of territory and a significant portion of population

• President Truman was blamed by critics

Korea•Divided after WWII•Two independent countries•Border 38th parallel•North Korea was communist•South Korea was not

Invasion•American troops remained in Korea ‘til after the communist victory in China•In June of 1950 North Korea invaded the South•North Korea was supported by the Soviet Union•Very quickly conquered the southern capital•Continued to chase the retreating South Korean army

US Response

• President Truman remembered how appeasement had failed to stop German aggression before WWII

• He didn’t want that to happen again• He announced the US would support South

Korea

UN Response

• The UN Security Council voted unanimously to also support South Korea

• The Soviet Union was absent• They most likely would have vetoed the

resolution if they had been there

Was it a “War”?

• Truman did not ask Congress for a formal declaration of war

• Since he had the support of the UN resolution, he ordered US troops from Japan to move to South Korea

• Troops were untrained• Lacked proper supplies

Retreat and Counterattack

• The American troops joined the South Koreans in a retreat to Pusan in Southeastern Korea

• Soldiers from other UN nations joined the US forces

• General Douglas MacArthur led• Surprise attack through Inchon• Drove the communists back

MacArthur’s Advice

• Pushed to continue the fight• Crossed the 38th parallel into North Korea• Assured President Truman that China would

not intervene• In November, as many as 300,000

Chinese troops attacked• UN troops were forced back

Truman’s Concerns

• Should we fight a major land war in eastern Asia?

• Would it require a huge commitment of troops?

• Would nuclear weapons be used?• Answer: No• Fight a limited war

MacArthur’s Reaction

• Opposed the President• Favored total warfare• Sent a letter to the House Republican leader

criticizing the President• When the letter became public, Truman fired

MacArthur for insubordination• Americans were shocked because

of MacArthur’s war hero status

Stalemate

• Spring 1951 allied forces regroup and hold fast• Position near the 38th parallel• Many small battles fought for two years• Little result

Election Time

• 1952 President election• Korea became a topic• Republican candidate, former General Dwight

D. Eisenhower promised to end the war• He won the election• Visited Korea• Convinced only strong action

could win

End of the War

• Eisenhower threatened to use nuclear weapons

• Stalin died• Communist forces agreed to settle• A cease-fire was signed• Border little changed

Results• The cease-fire remains in place today• Tension between north & south remains• China and Russia still support the north• The US still supports the south• Led to increased military spending• Presidents fighting without

Congressional approval• New alliance Southeast Asia

Treaty Organization (SEATO)

THE END