THE KOREAN WAR : Known as the “Forgotten War”

THE KOREAN WAR 1948: Korea was split into North (communist) and South (Republic of Korea) at the 38 th Parallel Kim Il Sung Leader of North Korea Syngman Rhee Leader of South Korea

THE KOREAN WAR North Korea, backed by communist China, easily pushes into South Korea Domino Theory- idea that if one country becomes communist then countries nearby would also fall to communism

THE KOREAN WAR The U.S., following the Truman Doctrine and the Domino theory, stepped in to back up South Korea U.S. forces, backed by General Douglas MacArthur drive N.K. back almost to China

THE KOREAN WAR China gets worried and sends large amount of troops to push back into South Korea U.S. sends reinforcements and pushes back to the 38 th Parallel

THE KOREAN WAR U.S./S.K. agree to truce with China/N.K. after U.S. begins talk of using nuclear bomb Korea still divided into two countries at the 38 th Parallel

THE KOREAN WAR Was the war a success or failure? Why?

 Up to 5 million dead, wounded, or missing, and half of them civilians.  There are still more than 7,000 U.S. soldier missing in action from the war.

 First “MASH” (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) units. Their aim was to be closer to the combat zones to save more soldiers’ lives.

 The military finally became racially integrated during WWII (blacks & whites served in mixed units, not separately).

 The Korean War never ended (was never officially a U.S. war either). Both sides just agreed to a ceasefire until negotiations could be reached, to this day that has not happened