The Korean War

The Korean War At the end of WWII US and Soviet forces entered Korea to disarm the Japanese troops stationed there Korea was divided at the 38th parallel line of latitude The Soviet Union controlled the North North Korea had a communist govt. The US controlled the South South Korea had an American-backed govt. Both govt. claimed authority over all of Korea

Korean War: US Intervenes June 25, 1950 – N. Korean troops invaded S. Korea North Korea was supplied by the Soviet Union (tanks, planes, money, etc.) They quickly drove back the poorly equipped S. Korean forces Truman saw the invasion of S. Korea as a test to America’s containment policy Truman ordered the US navy and airpower to help defend South Korea The UN also joined in defense of South Korea The US and UN troops fought the N. Koreans back across the 38th parallel and beyond all the way to the border w/ China

Korean War: China Enters The Chinese saw the advancing UN troops as a threat and warned the forces to stop UN troops ignored the warning China launched a massive attack across the border driving the UN forces back across the 38th parallel MacArthur then demanded approval to expand the war against China, he asked for… A blockade against Chinese ports The use of Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist forces Bombing of Chinese cities w/ atomic weapons

Korean War: MacArthur is Fired Truman refuses MacArthur’s demands b/c he did not want to expand the war into China or to use atomic bombs Truman remained committed to limited war Containing Communism is our foreign policy MacArthur publicly criticized the president Truman fires MacArthur for insubordination Truman chose General Matthew Ridgway to replace MacArthur

The Korean War: Cools down By mid 1951, UN forces had pushed the Chinese and N. Korean forces back across the 38th parallel The war settled into a series of small battles November 1951 – peace negotiations began An armistice would not be signed until July 1953

Armistice Finally Signed 1953 Eisenhower becomes president He was committed to ending the costly and unpopular war in Korea Ike let the Chinese know that the US might continue the war “under circumstances of our own choosing” A hint at nuclear attack Ike’s use of brinkmanship!!!

Brinkmanship Brinkmanship – willing to go to the brink of war to get your enemy to back down Used by President Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson Success of brinkmanship relied on… Ones willingness to go to war Better weapons than the opposing side Led to a an arms race

Korean War: The Ending July 1953 – negotiators sign an armistice The battle line b/w the two sides b/c the border b/w N. and S. Korea Very near the prewar boundary A demilitarized zone separates N. and S. Korea The war had stopped the spread of communism in Korea The goal of containment is reached!!!

The Korean War: Effects 1st time the US went to war to contain communism After the Korean war the US b/g to buildup the military Expanded the Cold War to Asia American aid b/g to flow to the French forces fighting Communist guerillas in Vietnam