The Cold War in Asia &The Korean War

UNIT 10.9

Japan

After WWII, Japan came under the sole control of the U.S. General MacArthur in charge of reconstruction

New constitution (May 1947) set up a parliamentary democracy in Japan New constitution limited Japan’s military

capabilities

As a result, Japan depended on the military protection of the U.S.

Japan

U.S.-Japanese Security Treaty 1951: The occupation of Japan ended with the

signing of a peace treaty and Japan agreeing to surrender its claim to Korea and other Pacific islands

A second treaty provided for U.S. troops to remain in military bases in Japan for the country’s protection against external enemies (i.e. Communism)

Japan became a strong ally and prospered under American protection

China

As soon as WWII ended, a civil war dating back to the 1930s was renewed between Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist party and Chinese Communists led by Mao Zedong

Nationalists were losing popularity because of runaway inflation and widespread corruption; Mao’s Communists successfully appealed to the poorer classes

China

U.S. attempts to negotiate a peace and an end to the civil war failed

After ruling out a large-scale invasion to rescue Chiang’s retreating forces, the U.S. decided to give the Nationalist government $400 million in aid

80% of this aid ended up in the hands of Mao’s Communists because of corruption and the eventual collapse of the Chiang’s Nationalist government

China

End of 1949- all of mainland China was under Communist control

Chiang and his Nationalists found refuge on the small island of Formosa (Taiwan) where they established their own government

The U.S. continued to support Chiang and did not formally recognize Chairman Mao’s regime (The People’s Republic of China) until thirty years later in 1979

Philippines

July 4, 1946- Philippines became an independent republic, but the U.S. retained important naval and air bases there throughout the Cold War

The Korean War

After the defeat of Japan, its former colony Korea was divided at the 38th parallel by the victors– Soviets in the North and the U.S. in the South

By 1949, both countries withdrew leaving the North in the hands of the Communists led by Kim Il Sung and the South under the control of the conservative Nationalists led by Syngman Rhee

The Korean War– Invasion June 25, 1950– North Korean army launches a

surprise invasion of South Korea

Truman calls a special session of the U.N. Security Council Authorized a U.N. force to defend South Korea, led by

General MacArthur Other countries participated, but mostly U.S. troops

were sent to help the South Korean army

Congress supported the use of troops, but did not formally declare war– accepted Truman’s explanation that U.S. intervention was a “police action” for containment

The Korean War– Counterattack At first, the North Koreans

were winning and pushed the South Korean/American forces to the southern tip of the peninsula

MacArthur launched a brilliant amphibious assault at Inchon behind North Korean lines U.N. forces proceeded to

wipe out much of the North Korean army and advance almost as far as China

The Korean War– Counterattack MacArthur ignored China’s warnings

that it would resist threats to its security

November 1950: masses of Chinese troops crossed into Korea and overwhelmed U.N. forces in one of the worst defeats in U.S. military history

Drove the U.S. out of North Korea

The Korean War– Truman vs. MacArthur

MacArthur managed to stabilize fighting around the 38th Parallel

Called for an expanded war: Bombing and invasion of

mainland China

Truman cautioned MacArthur about his statements, especially if they seemed to criticize official policy

The Korean War—Truman vs. MacArthur

MacArthur spoke out anyway and was recalled for insubordination in April 1951 Returned home to a hero’s

welcome

His message that “There is no substitute for victory” was better received than Truman’s policies of containment and “limited war”

Truman was criticized for not doing enough to destroy Communism in Asia

The Korean War– Armistice As the war dragged on,

the fighting was stalemated along a front just north of the 38th Parallel

Peace talks began in 1951 and dragged on until an armistice was signed in 1953 during the first year of Eisenhower’s presidency

Before the fighting had ended, 54,000 Americans had died in Korea

The Korean War– Political Consequences

TRUMAN AND THE DEMOCRATS

In one perspective, Truman’s containment policy in Korea was a success Stopped Communist aggression

against South Korea Prevented the conflict from

developing into a world war

Truman administration used the Korean War as justification for expanding the military, funding the new B-52 jet bomber, as well as stationing more U.S. troops in overseas bases

REPUBLICANS

Republicans were far from satisfied; criticized Truman and the Democrats for being “too soft on Communism” Stalemate in Korea Military defeat to China

Question?

What do you think? Were Truman’s containment policies successful in Korea or did we essentially lose the Korean War to Communism?