THE KOREAN WAR

Setting the Scene F“America’s forgotten war” FAmericans struggled to push back the Communists, who had made huge advances FBoth sides dug into their positions F“sitting war” F“America’s forgotten war” FAmericans struggled to push back the Communists, who had made huge advances FBoth sides dug into their positions F“sitting war”

Roots FChinese Civil War FForeign powers exerted influence on and held some small possessions of Chinese territory FJapan and Germany were involved FJapan got control of German possessions there after WWI, increasing Japanese power in China FChina called for a stronger, more independent country FDemocracy, nationalism, or communism FChinese Civil War FForeign powers exerted influence on and held some small possessions of Chinese territory FJapan and Germany were involved FJapan got control of German possessions there after WWI, increasing Japanese power in China FChina called for a stronger, more independent country FDemocracy, nationalism, or communism

Nationalist Party FNationalists in the north (Jiang Jieshi) FCommunists in the south (Mao Zedong) around Shanghai FThis led to a civil war in 1927 when Jiang sent troops to attack the Communists and their supporters FNationalists in the north (Jiang Jieshi) FCommunists in the south (Mao Zedong) around Shanghai FThis led to a civil war in 1927 when Jiang sent troops to attack the Communists and their supporters

Mao FGained support for the Communist cause by redistributing land to the peasants and offering the schooling and health care. FThis division continued for a long time between the groups, after WWII FNationalists lost support b/c of their harsh treatment of the population, high taxes, and corruption FMao’s land reforms and his promise of equality and military victories led Communists to power in 1949 FNationalists fled to Taiwan FGained support for the Communist cause by redistributing land to the peasants and offering the schooling and health care. FThis division continued for a long time between the groups, after WWII FNationalists lost support b/c of their harsh treatment of the population, high taxes, and corruption FMao’s land reforms and his promise of equality and military victories led Communists to power in 1949 FNationalists fled to Taiwan

Dividing Korea FBefore WWI, Japan also annexed the Korean peninsula FHarsh rule by the Japanese FKoreans hoped that the defeat of Japan would lead to restoration of their own power FWWII ended before the plans for Korean independence could be worked out FBefore WWI, Japan also annexed the Korean peninsula FHarsh rule by the Japanese FKoreans hoped that the defeat of Japan would lead to restoration of their own power FWWII ended before the plans for Korean independence could be worked out

38th Parallel FAllies agreed on a temporary solution FSoviet soldiers accepted the surrender of Japanese troops north of the 38th parallel, which was the latitude line running across Korea at the midpoint of the peninsula FAmericans did the same south of the parallel FIt was never meant to be permanent FIt created a Soviet-occupied northern zone and an American occupied southern zone FAllies agreed on a temporary solution FSoviet soldiers accepted the surrender of Japanese troops north of the 38th parallel, which was the latitude line running across Korea at the midpoint of the peninsula FAmericans did the same south of the parallel FIt was never meant to be permanent FIt created a Soviet-occupied northern zone and an American occupied southern zone

Korean War FKoreans wanted to unify their nation on both sides of the line FNorth Korean troops streamed across the 38th parallel, hoping to reunite Korea by force FAmericans thought this was Soviet- led, a case of aggression FTruman felt that if the Americans did not respond, Communism would spread FHe believed WWIII would start if the US did not intervene FKoreans wanted to unify their nation on both sides of the line FNorth Korean troops streamed across the 38th parallel, hoping to reunite Korea by force FAmericans thought this was Soviet- led, a case of aggression FTruman felt that if the Americans did not respond, Communism would spread FHe believed WWIII would start if the US did not intervene

UN Police Action FThe UN blocked Communist China’s admission to the UN in 1949 FSoviets walked out in protest FThus could not exercise its veto power when Truman brought up the issue of North Korean aggression to the UN FThe US gained unanimous approval for resolutions that branded North Korea as an aggressor FThe UN blocked Communist China’s admission to the UN in 1949 FSoviets walked out in protest FThus could not exercise its veto power when Truman brought up the issue of North Korean aggression to the UN FThe US gained unanimous approval for resolutions that branded North Korea as an aggressor

Truman’s steps FProtected Taiwan FOrdered US air and naval support for the South Koreans FSent ground troops in FHe did NOT go to Congress and ask for a declaration of war, but Congress was very supportive FUN set up 16 nations to contribute troops or arms, but the US was 80% of the force FProtected Taiwan FOrdered US air and naval support for the South Koreans FSent ground troops in FHe did NOT go to Congress and ask for a declaration of war, but Congress was very supportive FUN set up 16 nations to contribute troops or arms, but the US was 80% of the force

Douglas MacArthur FMacArthur was Truman’s choice to lead the UN forces in Korea FBased in Japan FResponsible for establishing western democracy there and for creating Japan’s new democratic constitution FMacArthur was Truman’s choice to lead the UN forces in Korea FBased in Japan FResponsible for establishing western democracy there and for creating Japan’s new democratic constitution

North Korean advance FNorth Korean troops swept through South Korea in a few weeks FMacArthur defended Pusan, and then landed troops at Inchon in NW South Korea and attacked enemy supply lines from behind FThe strategy worked, and the North Koreans fled back across the 38th parallel FNorth Korean troops swept through South Korea in a few weeks FMacArthur defended Pusan, and then landed troops at Inchon in NW South Korea and attacked enemy supply lines from behind FThe strategy worked, and the North Koreans fled back across the 38th parallel

China’s warning FChina was concerned that the South Koreans and Americans would take power FThey threatened the US not to advance any further FMacArthur ignored them F“Home by Christmas” drive: Nov. 24, 1950, designed to drive the enemy across the North Korean border at the Yalu River in to China and end the war FChina was concerned that the South Koreans and Americans would take power FThey threatened the US not to advance any further FMacArthur ignored them F“Home by Christmas” drive: Nov. 24, 1950, designed to drive the enemy across the North Korean border at the Yalu River in to China and end the war

That didn’t work... FChinese troops poured across the Yalu River into North Korea to take the offensive FChinese and North Korean troops pushed the UN forces back into South Korea FLed to a stalemate FChinese troops poured across the Yalu River into North Korea to take the offensive FChinese and North Korean troops pushed the UN forces back into South Korea FLed to a stalemate

MacArthur’s next steps FWanted to open a second front to break stalemate FHe wanted Jiang’s forces at Taiwan to return to the Chinese mainland to attack the Chinese Communists FTruman was opposed to this, fearing it could lead to a widespread war in Asia FWanted to open a second front to break stalemate FHe wanted Jiang’s forces at Taiwan to return to the Chinese mainland to attack the Chinese Communists FTruman was opposed to this, fearing it could lead to a widespread war in Asia

The letter FMacArthur sent a letter to House Minority Leader Joseph Martin in March 1951 FAttacked the president’s policies FMartin made the letter public FOn April 11th, Truman fired MacArthur for insubordination FHe received a hero’s welcome when he came back FMacArthur sent a letter to House Minority Leader Joseph Martin in March 1951 FAttacked the president’s policies FMartin made the letter public FOn April 11th, Truman fired MacArthur for insubordination FHe received a hero’s welcome when he came back

War continues... FThe war dragged on for over two more years FTruman now very unpopular, did not have a good approval rating FEisenhower came in, wanted peace talks FIke threatened to use atomic weapons FA truce was signed in 1953, leaving Korea divided at about the 38th parallel FThe war dragged on for over two more years FTruman now very unpopular, did not have a good approval rating FEisenhower came in, wanted peace talks FIke threatened to use atomic weapons FA truce was signed in 1953, leaving Korea divided at about the 38th parallel

Effects of the war F54,000 American soldiers killed F103,000 wounded FLimited results: why the deaths? FCommunist forces were pushed back FContainment occurred without nuclear war F54,000 American soldiers killed F103,000 wounded FLimited results: why the deaths? FCommunist forces were pushed back FContainment occurred without nuclear war

Other effects... FKorean War was the first in which white and African Americans served in the same units FHuge increase in military spending FBy 1960, 1/2 of budget went to defense F1/2 million soldiers stationed around the world: permanent mobilization FMilitary-industrial complex: employed 3.5 million Americans by 1960: kept the arsenal going FKorean War was the first in which white and African Americans served in the same units FHuge increase in military spending FBy 1960, 1/2 of budget went to defense F1/2 million soldiers stationed around the world: permanent mobilization FMilitary-industrial complex: employed 3.5 million Americans by 1960: kept the arsenal going

Relations with Japan FUS signed a peace treaty with Japan in 1951 FKorean war did ruin relations with Communist China FUS signed a peace treaty with Japan in 1951 FKorean war did ruin relations with Communist China