Korean War Cold War Heats Up!

China Falls to Communism In China, the U.S. backed the Nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek However, Kai-she’ks government lacked support from the Chinese people In 1949, Communists ran the Nationalists out of mainland China to the island of Taiwan and setup Mao Zedong (or Mao Tse Tung) as its leader The United States didn’t recognize Mao’s communist People’s Republic of China as the real government But U.S. secretary of state Dean Acheson saw that China was beyond U.S. control and was lost to the communists Some politicians vowed never lose another Asian country to Communism

Korea Splits Up after WWII Potsdam Conference said after WWII, Korea was occupied north of 38th Parallel by Soviets and south by U.S. Soviets set up communist govt. in North, ironically called the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea The U.S. supported the Democratic govt. of the South (Republic of Korea) Both North and South Korea claimed the country as their own Vote is planned for South Korea Aug.. 15, Syngman Rhee elected Pres. North Korea refuses to have vote to unite the country

North Korea Invades South Korea On June 25, 1950 North Korea supplied with weapons from communist China & Soviet Union invades South Korea below the 38 th parallel Vote in the United Nations is to condemn Soviets had boycotted U.N. since Jan over Communist China’s exclusion from U.N. Soviets had boycotted U.N. since Jan over Communist China’s exclusion from U.N. In July of 1950, General Douglas MacArthur took command of a 15 nation army of troops (mostly U.S. and S. Korea) to fight in Korea President Truman never actually declared war, instead he called it a “police action” By Sept. 1950, U.N. troops hold the perimeter around Pusan (southern tip of Korea) Sept. 15 U.N. forces land at Inchon, start ushing N. Korea back By Sept. 26 Seoul is freed By Sept. 26 Seoul is freed Allied troops break out of Pusan and join troops moving south from Seoul Allied troops break out of Pusan and join troops moving south from Seoul

U.S. & U.N. go on Offensive By October 1950 Allied troops cross into North Korea McArthur has changed the aim of the war to uniting Korea under Democracy Oct. 19 Pyongyang, capital of North Korea, falls Oct. 19 Pyongyang, capital of North Korea, falls Oct. 25 Chinese communist officially enter war, send more troops to help North Korea Oct. 25 Chinese communist officially enter war, send more troops to help North Korea Soviets didn’t officially enter war, but their Mig 15 missile was used Soviets didn’t officially enter war, but their Mig 15 missile was used Nov. 21 troops reach the Yalu river, the border of N. Korea & China Nov. 21 troops reach the Yalu river, the border of N. Korea & China

China Helps Push U.N Forces Back Several hundred thousand Chinese soldiers cross the Yalu into North Korea Allied troops fall back south of the 38th Parallel Allied troops fall back south of the 38th Parallel 20,000 U.S. marines are cut off at the port of Hungnam 20,000 U.S. marines are cut off at the port of Hungnam U.S. actually has to perform an amphibious evacuation – similar to D- Day landing, but in reverse U.S. actually has to perform an amphibious evacuation – similar to D- Day landing, but in reverse

McArthur vs. Truman McArthur wants to: Bomb China with nuclear bombs if necessary Bomb China with nuclear bombs if necessary Encourage Chang Kai Shek to invades Chinese mainland from Taiwan Encourage Chang Kai Shek to invades Chinese mainland from Taiwan “There is no substitute for victory” “There is no substitute for victory” Truman wants to Keep war limited to Korea Fears a WWIII Orders McArthur to clear all statements with him Wrong time, Wrong place, Wrong Enemy When MacArthur publicly criticizes Truman, Truman removes him from command in April 1951 Decision is very unpopular, MacArthur returns home to parades

Election of 1952 Korean War became a major issue in the election of 1952 Knowing that he was getting blamed for the war, Truman decided not to run for re-election Adlai Stevenson, replaced Truman for the Democrats Former U.S. General in the European theater of WWII, Dwight D. Eisenhower was the Republican candidate Eisenhower, nicknamed Ike, was a very popular candidate His vice presidential running mate, Richard Nixon, able to escape controversy by going on T.V. after being accused of taking illegal gifts Eisenhower easily won the 1952 election

End of War By 1951, it was clear no one would win the war, unless someone took a drastic measure like dropping an atomic bomb Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin died in 1953 Eisenhower and the new Soviet leaders both wanted to end the war in Korea On July 27, 1953 North and South Korea agreed to a truce, but not a peace treaty Set up a 2 1/2 mile wide demilitarized buffer zone along 38th parallel After years of fighting and 5 million casualties total the line that divided N. & S. Korea was still roughly the same Even today, U.S. soldiers still line up along the 38 th parallel and enforce the demilitarized zone