What now???? 1949: USSR explodes an A-Bomb 1949 China becomes Communist -Mao Zedong creates People’s Republic of China -Chiang Kai-shek flees to Taiwan : People under Soviet control increased from 180 million to 800 million people

The Korean War: “If we let Korea down,” President Harry Truman ( ) said, “the Soviet[s] will keep right on going and swallow up one [place] after another.” Harry TrumanHarry Truman

Background Japanese imperialism in Korea ( ) Japanese imperialism in Korea ( ) Post WWII Korea split Post WWII Korea split N 38 th parallel S.U., Kim Il Sung N 38 th parallel S.U., Kim Il Sung Capital: Pyongyang Capital: Pyongyang S 38 th parallel U.S., Syngman Rhee S 38 th parallel U.S., Syngman Rhee Capital: Seoul Capital: Seoul By 1949 BOTH USSR and USA removed troops By 1949 BOTH USSR and USA removed troops USA fearful about the fate S. Korea USA fearful about the fate S. Korea Kim Il Sung Syngman Rhee

Kim Il Sung versus Syngman Rhee

The Issue Between the N and S Both sides wanted to reunify-under their own government Both sides wanted to reunify-under their own government June 25, 1950 North invades the South June 25, 1950 North invades the South The war begins…. The war begins…. North had soviet tanks, arms, while U.S. gave little initial support North had soviet tanks, arms, while U.S. gave little initial support

President Truman recognized the situation as critically relevant to the global containment of communism: President Truman recognized the situation as critically relevant to the global containment of communism: Communism was acting in Korea, just as Hitler, Mussolini and the Japanese had ten, fifteen, and twenty years earlier. I felt certain that if South Korea was allowed to fall communist leaders would be emboldened to override nations closer to our own shores. If the Communists were permitted to force their way into the Republic of Korea without opposition from the free world, no small nation would have the courage to resist threat and aggression by stronger communist neighbors. Communism was acting in Korea, just as Hitler, Mussolini and the Japanese had ten, fifteen, and twenty years earlier. I felt certain that if South Korea was allowed to fall communist leaders would be emboldened to override nations closer to our own shores. If the Communists were permitted to force their way into the Republic of Korea without opposition from the free world, no small nation would have the courage to resist threat and aggression by stronger communist neighbors.

The U.N. Becomes Involved and Fighting Begins U.N.S.C. Resolution 82, condemn North Korea and ask for help U.N.S.C. Resolution 82, condemn North Korea and ask for help USSR boycotting bc of China issue USSR boycotting bc of China issue June 27, 1950: U.S. will use land, sea and air to aid South Korea June 27, 1950: U.S. will use land, sea and air to aid South Korea 15 other countries under General Douglas MacArthur 15 other countries under General Douglas MacArthur N advances quickly over summer takes Seoul N advances quickly over summer takes Seoul By Nov, U.S. counter attack and take Pyongyang By Nov, U.S. counter attack and take Pyongyang

The Role of the Chinese Nov 26, 1950: Chinese joined N Korea and counter offense begins Nov 26, 1950: Chinese joined N Korea and counter offense begins By January: Communists took Seoul By January: Communists took Seoul S Korea only held 10% of country by Sept. S Korea only held 10% of country by Sept. Line along Nakdong river: Pusch Perimeter Line along Nakdong river: Pusch Perimeter Fighting then pushed back to 38 th parallel Fighting then pushed back to 38 th parallel General MacArthur wanted to stage another offensive attack and attack China General MacArthur wanted to stage another offensive attack and attack China Truman replaced him with Gen’l Mathew Ridgeway Truman replaced him with Gen’l Mathew Ridgeway Fighting remained along 38 th parallel Fighting remained along 38 th parallel

Election of 1952 Republican candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower Republican candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower Democrat candidate Adlai Stevenson Democrat candidate Adlai Stevenson Eisenhower promised to end the Korean war yet still resist the spread of Communism Eisenhower promised to end the Korean war yet still resist the spread of Communism Eisenhower won the electoral college Eisenhower won the electoral college President Eisenhower sidents/de34.html

How/Why It All Ends Starting July 10, 1951: peace negotiations began – fighting continued Starting July 10, 1951: peace negotiations began – fighting continued Broke down 4 times Broke down 4 times 1952: Dwight Eisenhower becomes President, “will go myself to Korea to end this war.” 1952: Dwight Eisenhower becomes President, “will go myself to Korea to end this war.” Armistice: July 27, 1953 in Panmunjom, Korea Armistice: July 27, 1953 in Panmunjom, Korea

Results Over 54,000 Americans died; 103,000 wounded Over 54,000 Americans died; 103,000 wounded The Chinese and Koreans had casualty rates 10x higher The Chinese and Koreans had casualty rates 10x higher Around 3-4 million death, missing and wounded Around 3-4 million death, missing and wounded In Korea: families separated In Korea: families separated Extremely high civilian casualties (70% of total; 40% of total in WWII) Extremely high civilian casualties (70% of total; 40% of total in WWII) Bombing: destroyed land-floods-famine Bombing: destroyed land-floods-famine With her brother on her back a war weary Korean girl tiredly trudges by a stalled M- 26 tank, at Haengju, Korea., 06/09/1951

Results Mixed race children – adoption overseas Mixed race children – adoption overseas Division between the two Koreas widened Division between the two Koreas widened U.S. – more defense spending U.S. – more defense spending Sped up integration in armed services Sped up integration in armed services Role of U.S. Role of U.S. U.S. more against China and leftism U.S. more against China and leftism US closer ties with Japan US closer ties with Japan

Somewhere into the third week, of not being able to eat, the cries of the little ones, turned to a terrible timbre, and the mothers bent their wills, at the river's edge, silenced the cries. Somewhere into the third week, of not being able to eat, the cries of the little ones, turned to a terrible timbre, and the mothers bent their wills, at the river's edge, silenced the cries.

A year's worth of bombs and bayonets; to what end, for what gain? To build even higher the wall across our ancient land? Questions without answers, from a generation of lost children. A year's worth of bombs and bayonets; to what end, for what gain? To build even higher the wall across our ancient land? Questions without answers, from a generation of lost children.

New Tools of War Helicopter Helicopter 37,000 U.S. troops remain on DMZ 37,000 U.S. troops remain on DMZ