Unit: The Cold War Topic: Korea and Vietnam

REMINDER! Cold War DBQ Essay is due on Wednesday, March 9! Cold War Multiple Choice Test will be on Wednesday, March 9! 50 questions, bring a pencil!

1. The Korean War (1950-1953)

After World War II, Korea was divided into Communist North Korea and non-Communist South Korea.

North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950 to make one communist country.

Under General Douglas MacArthur, UN forces came very close to starting WWIII by invading China; MacArthur thought it necessary, but President Truman disagreed and “fired” him.

China was a Communist country, and the fear was that the Soviet Union would become involved.

The war soon reached a stalemate; nobody was losing, but nobody was winning, either.

An armistice was signed in 1953; today, Korea remains divided at the 38th Parallel.

The Korean War

2. The Vietnam War (1964-1975)

In 1954, Vietnam was divided into Communist North Vietnam and non-Communist South Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh controlled the North, and Ngo Dinh Diem controlled the South.

Ho Chi Minh started sending forces into South Vietnam using parts of neutral Cambodia for the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

American forces joined South Vietnam (1964-1975), but were unable to defeat the Communists.

The Tet Offensive started on January 31, 1968 The Tet Offensive started on January 31, 1968. More than 80,000 Communist troops struck more than 100 towns and cities, including Saigon, almost simultaneously.

In 1973, Nixon ordered a cease-fire and began to pull U. S In 1973, Nixon ordered a cease-fire and began to pull U.S. troops out of Vietnam.

Nixon established Vietnamization, or the South Vietnamese takeover of the war.

He also ordered a massive bombing campaign of neutral Cambodia to destroy the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

The country fell to Communism in 1975; today there is only one Communist Vietnam.

The End of the War