Chapter 17-3 War in Korea and Vietnam –I) War in Korea –II) War in Vietnam

I) War in Korea After World War II Korea became a divided nation. North of the 38 th parallel, Japanese troops surrendered to the Soviets, south they surrendered to the Americans. Communist North Korea invades South Korea in a surprise attack in June of 1950, penetrating deep into the south. The United Nations sent an international force to Korea to stop the invasion under the leadership of General Douglas MacArthur. MacArthur launched a surprise amphibious landing behind the North Korean troops at Inchon, causing about half the troops to surrender, while the rest retreated.

Each government claimed the sole right to rule Korea

NORTH KOREA SOUTH KOREA 38 TH PARALLEL DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA On June 25, 1950, North Korea invades South Korea

I) War in Korea By late November of 1950 the UN troops had pushed the North Koreans almost to the Yalu River at the border of China. The Chinese felt threatened and sent 300,000 troops to aid North Korea. –Video - As the Chinese troops drove the UN troops south, MacArthur called for a nuclear attack against Chinese cities, but President Truman disagreed. –Video - After 3 years of fighting, a cease fire agreement is signed, setting up the border between North and South Korea back on the 38 th parallel, but approximately 5,000,000 people had died.

I) War in Korea Since the war Korea has remained a divided country. The Communist north, under dictator Kim Il Sung established collective farms, built up heavy industry, and military arms. Under his son Kim Jong Il, North Korea developed nuclear weapons, but continues to struggle with shortages of energy and food. South Korea free market economy prospered thanks to massive aid from the United States, concentrating on developing industry and foreign trade. After a succession of dictators, South Korea adopted a democratic constitution in 1987 and had free elections.

II) War in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh leads Vietnam in a revolt against France to gain their independence. Ho turns to the communists for help after United States President Eisenhower backs the French because of his domino theory, which said if one Southeast Asian nation fell to the communists, others would follow. After the French suffered a major military defeat at Dien Bien Phu, they surrendered to Ho.

II) War in Vietnam An international peace conference divided Vietnam at the 17 th parallel, with Minh’s communists in the north and the US backed anti-communist dictator Ngo Dinh Diem in the south. Diem was an unpopular leader, and after he cancelled elections communist guerillas called Vietcong, gained strength in the south. The United States decided to escalate its involvement by sending troops to prevent the communist takeover. Despite the most advanced army in the world, the United States face two major problems –1. They were fighting a guerilla war in unfamiliar territory. –2. The South Vietnamese government defending was unpopular. Video -

On Aug. 2 nd, 1964, a North Vietnamese Patrol Boat Fires On The USS Maddox & misses. On Aug 7, Congress adopts the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, granting Johnson broad military powers in Vietnam. 2 Days later, another attack by Vietnamese

In Feb. 1965, Johnson unleashes Operation Rolling Thunder. The first sustained bombing of North Vietnam In March, U.S. combat troops began arriving in South Vietnam. By June, 50,000 troops were battling the VC

II) War in Vietnam During the 1960’s the war became increasingly unpopular in the United States, and by 1969 President Nixon decided to begin withdrawing troops. –Video - the-draft?m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&free=false His plan called for Vietnamization, or gradually pulling out US troops and replacing them with South Vietnamese troops. The last US troops left in 1973 and two short years later the North Vietnamese communists overran the South.

II) War in Vietnam The communist Khmer Rouge take over Cambodia and under the leadership of Pol Pot slaughter 2,000,000 people. More than 1,500,000 Vietnamese had been killed and 58,000 Americans lost their lives. Communist oppression caused 1.5 million people to flee Vietnam. 200,000 boat people died, 70,000 Vietnamese refugees eventually settled in the US or Canada