The Cold War Heats Up

Bell Ringer Who was fighting in the Cold War? What were they fighting about? Who was the President at the time?

China becomes a communist country For two decades, Chinese Communists had struggled against the nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek The United States supported the nationalist. Between 1945 and 1949, the American government sent the Nationalists approximately $3 billion in aid. Many Americans were impressed by Chiang Kai-shek and admired the courage and determination that the Chinese Nationalists showed in resisting the Japanese during the war. However, U.S. officials who dealt with Chiang held a different view. They found his government inefficient and hopelessly corrupt.

China becomes a communist country In contrast, the Communists, led by Mao Zedong, gained strength throughout the country. In the areas they controlled, Communists worked to win peasant support. They encouraged peasants to learn to read, and they helped to improve food production. As a result, more and more recruits As a result, more and more recruits flocked to the Communists’ Red Army. By 1945, much of northern China was under communist control.

Renewed Civil War The Nationalists and Communists in China renewed their Civil War once the Japanese left after WWII. From 1944-47 U.S. was a peacemaker between the two favoring the Nationalists because they opposed communism. Peace was never truly accomplished and the U.S. refused to commit soldiers to back up the Nationalists. The Nationalists were eventually run out of China. The communists ruled all of mainland China Called People’s Republic of China U.S. refused to accept this as China’s true government.

America Reacts to communist takeover The American public was stunned that China had become Communist. Containment had failed! In Congress, conservative Republicans and Democrats attacked the Truman administration for supplying only limited aid to Chiang. Trying to do more would only have started a war in Asia—a war that the United States wasn’t prepared to fight. Some conservatives in Congress rejected this argument as a lame excuse. They claimed that the American government was riddled with Communist agents. Like wildfire, American fear of communism began to burn out of control.

Japan had ruled Korea from 1910-1945. The Korean War Japan had ruled Korea from 1910-1945. Japanese troops north of the 38th parallel surrendered to the Soviets. Troops south of the parallel surrendered to America. Just like Germany, two nations developed, one communists and one democratic.

The Korean War In 1948 the Republic of Korea was established in South Korea. Which was formally occupied by U.S. Led by Syngman Rhee with the capital of Seoul. The Communists formed the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the North Led by Kim Il Sung with the capital of Pyongyang.

North Korea attacks south Korea On June 25, 1950, North Korean forces swept across the 38th parallel in a surprise attack on South Korea. The conflict that followed became known as the Korean War. South Korea called on the UN to stop the North Korean invasion. The vote passed especially because the Soviets had been boycotting the council. On June 27th Truman ordered troops stations in Japan to support South Korea and send an American fleet between Taiwan and China. 90% of the help from the 16 nations was U.S. aid. The combined forces were placed under General Douglas MacArthur.

Seoul North Korean troops moved steadily south. They conquered the South Korean capital of Seoul. Then MacArthur launched a counterattack. His forces trapped about half the North Korean Army, which surrendered. MacArthur’s success in Korea made him a national hero.

Offensive or Defensive September 1950, UN and South Korean forces advanced toward the 38th parallel and push the North Koreans back above the 38th parallel. If they crossed it, the war would become an offensive rather than a defensive one. In October 1950, the UN told MacArthur to cross the 38th parallel and reunite Korea.

Macarthur versus Truman In response to UN troops crossing the 38th parallel, China sent troops to help the North Koreans. With Chinese help, the North Koreans pushed the UN troops back south. For a long time, the war remained a stalemate at the 38th parallel. Tensions mounted between President Truman and General MacArthur: MacArthur wanted to push past the 38th parallel and even invade mainland China. Truman wanted to use diplomacy and avoid a major war with China. Avoid a possible World War III MacArthur tried to go over Truman’s head by using the media to get public support, and Truman fired him for insubordination on April 11, 1951.

How do you predict the public will respond to Truman’s decision to fire MacArthur? Is it a big deal to fire a General? Why or why not? Based on what you know about the Cold War and the 1950s, do you think the public sided with Truman (who wanted diplomacy) or with MacArthur (who wanted to invade mainland China)? Why?

What does this say about how the American public felt about Truman’s decision to fire MacArthur? Did more people support or oppose Truman? How did this change over time?

Analyzing Historical documents As an individual activity you are going to read Document B and C. You will then complete the graphic organizer and the short answer question below. M’Arthur fired April 11 1951

Debrief How did people feel about Truman’s decision? What were some of the reasons that people gave for supporting or not supporting Truman? What does this say about how people felt during the early years of the Cold War?

While watching the video I want you to answer these questions: Overview of the Korean War While watching the video I want you to answer these questions: What was America’s viewpoint of Truman towards the end of the Korean War? How did the Korean War end? Who was now the President of the United States?

The End? The Korean War ended in 1953 as a stalemate, with the country still split at the 38th parallel. Truman’s decision to fight a limited war (and not invade China, as General MacArthur wanted to do) cost him popularity at home. The “loss” of China to Communism and the stalemate in the Korean War led many Americans to become increasingly paranoid about the spread of Communism.

TRuman Out Many people felt that American lives had been lost for little gain. As a result, the American people rejected the party in power, the Democrats, in the 1952 election. Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president. Americans also became even more worried about Communist expansion abroad and Communist spies at home.

You will do this reading and questions individually. Guided Reading You will do this reading and questions individually. These questions will be a part of a quiz tomorrow.

With a partner complete the four main idea questions for a quiz grade.