Chapter 23 Section 2

Growing Interest in China Nationalists Led by Chiang Kai-shek Communists Led by Mao Zedong People’s Republic of China: In the 1940’s, China was embroiled in a civil war.

The U.S. gave the Chiang Kai-shek millions of dollars, but the communists won the war.

Chinese poster saying: "Chairman Mao is the Red sun of our hearts.", 1966

China became a communist country, and Chiang Kai-shek and his forces fled to Taiwan.

Taiwan students stage an anti-independence protest. Taipei, Taiwan, 2003

Korean War [ ]

Syngman Rhee Kim Il-Sung “Domino Theory”

The Shifting Map of Korea [ ]

Fighting in Korea: Korea was divided at the 38th parallel of latitude. North Korea was communist and supported by the Soviets, and South Korea was democratic and supported by the U.S.

In June of 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea.

The U.N. sent an international force to Korea in order to push the North Koreans out of South Korea. United Nations forces fighting to recapture Seoul, South Korea, from communist invaders, September 1950.

LuxembourgLuxembourg - 7 NorwayNorway (noncombat role) South AfricaSouth Africa - 20 United StatesUnited States – 33,741 New ZealandNew Zealand - 31 PhilippinesPhilippines - 92 South KoreaSouth Korea – 137,899 SwedenSweden (noncombat role) ThailandThailand TurkeyTurkey United KingdomUnited Kingdom – 1,078 United NationsUnited Nations - 932,964 troops served NetherlandsNetherlands AustraliaAustralia BelgiumBelgium - 97 CanadaCanada ColombiaColombia DenmarkDenmark (noncombat role) EthiopiaEthiopia FranceFrance GreeceGreece IndiaIndia (noncombat role) ItalyItaly (noncombat role) United Nations Forces in Korea: (Nation – Number Killed in Action)

U.S. General Douglas MacArthur led the U.N. force, approximately 80% of which were U.S. soldiers. MacArthur at Inch'on landing

Americans pushed to the Pusan Perimeter …the North Koreans had pushed the U.N. forces to the southeast corner of the peninsula, where they dug in around the port of Pusan…a "grim-faced and business-like" MacArthur visited Eighth Army commander Walton Walker. A witness said that MacArthur told Walker, "There will be no Dunkirk in this command. To retire to Pusan will be unacceptable." Gen. Walker gave the "stand or die" order, and over the next six weeks a desperate, bloody struggle ensued as the North Koreans threw everything they had at American and ROK (South Korean) forces in an effort to gain complete control over Korea.

With what is widely considered the crowning example of his military genius, MacArthur completely changed the course of the war overnight by ordering -- over nearly unanimous objections -- an amphibious invasion at the port of Inchon, near Seoul…The Americans quickly gained control of Inchon, recaptured Seoul within days, and cut the North Korean supply lines. American and ROK forces broke out of the Pusan Perimeter and chased the retreating enemy north. On September 27, after Washington had consulted with its allies Inchon regarding war aims, MacArthur received permission to pursue the enemy into North Korea. ROK forces crossed the 38th parallel on October 1, opening a fateful new chapter in the conflict.

Approaching the Yalu The Chinese army, which had been massing north of the Yalu River after secretly slipping into North Korea, struck with considerable force. After suffering setbacks, the U.N. forces stabilized their lines by November 5, only to watch the Chinese withdraw northward as quickly as they had struck. MacArthur was now worried enough to press Washington for greater latitude in taking the fight into China. He nevertheless launched a great offensive toward the end of November, which he optimistically hoped would end the war in Korea and "get the boys home by Christmas." It proved a terrible miscalculation.

An Entirely New War MacArthur's "all-out offensive" to the Yalu had barely begun when the Chinese struck with awesome force on the night of November 25. Roughly 300,000 Chinese troops overwhelmed the U.N. forces. On November 28, a shaken MacArthur informed the Joint Chiefs, "We face an entirely new war." MacArthur's men fought courageously and skillfully just to avoid annihilation, as they were pushed back down the peninsula. Seoul changed hands yet again on January 5. But under the able and energetic of General Matthew Ridgway, the U.N. retreat ended about 70 miles below Seoul.

Stalemate Beginning January 15, 1952, Gen. Ridgway led the U.N. in a slow advance northward. Inflicting heavy casualties on the Chinese and North Koreans, the U.N. re-recaptured Seoul (the fourth and final time it changed hands!) on March 15, and had patrols crossing the 38th parallel on March 31. A stalemate ensued, which lasting for another two years. Not until nearly two million more had died did the Korean War end, when an armistice was signed on July 27, 1953.

Ending the War: President Truman disagreed with MacArthur about attacking China. Gen. MacArthur wanted to attack China with support of Chinese nationalists. U.N. troops regained South Korea by March of 1951.

Truman fired MacArthur for defying him by publicly taunting and threatening the Chinese.

In July of 1953, the Korean War ended, in which over 54,000 Americans died.

The Korean War: Concluding Video South Korean troops patrol along the DMZ.

The Vietnam War Chapter 23

Background to the War zFrance controlled “Indochina” since the late 19 th century zJapan took control during World War II zWith U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization in the postwar period

Background to the War zThe French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh forces in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu zPresident Eisenhower declined to intervene on behalf of France.

Background to the War zInternational Conference at Geneva P Vietnam was divided at 17 th parallel O Ho Chi Minh’s nationalist forces controlled the North O Ngo Dinh Diem, a French- educated, Roman Catholic claimed control of the South

Background to the War zA date was set for democratic elections to reunify Vietnam zDiem backed out of the elections, leading to military conflict between North and South

U.S. Military Involvement Begins zRepressive zRepressive dictatorial rule by Diem P Diem’s P Diem’s family holds all power P Wealth P Wealth is hoarded by the elite P Buddhist P Buddhist majority persecuted P Torture, P Torture, lack of political freedom prevail zThe zThe U.S. aided Diem’s government P Ike P Ike sent financial and military aid P 675 P 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.

Early Protests of Diem’s Government Self-Emolation by a Buddhist Monk

U.S. Military Involvement Begins zKennedy elected 1960 zIncreases military “advisors” to 16,000 z1963: JFK supports a Vietnamese military coup d’etat – Diem and his brother are murdered (Nov. 2) zKennedy was assassinated just weeks later (Nov. 22)

Johnson Sends Ground Forces zRemembers Truman’s “loss” of China  Domino Theory revived I’m not going to be the president who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went.

Johnson Sends Ground Forces zAdvised to rout the communists by Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara zTonkin Gulf Incident  1964 (acc. to Johnson, the attacks were unprovoked) zTonkin Gulf Resolution P “The Blank Check” *

U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam

The Ground War zNo territorial goals zBody counts on TV every night (first “living room” war) zViet Cong supplies over the Ho Chi Minh Trail

The Air War z1965: Sustained bombing of North Vietnam zOperation Rolling Thunder (March 2, 1965) z : Ongoing bombing of Hanoi nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the Ho Chi Minh Trail. zDowned Pilots: P.O.W.s zCarpet Bombing – napalm

The Air War: A Napalm Attack

Who Is the Enemy? zVietcong zVietcong: P Farmers by day; guerillas at night. P Very patient people willing to accept many casualties. P The US grossly underestimated their resolve and their resourcefulness. The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win. -- M MM Mao Zedong

Who Is the Enemy?

The Ground War zGeneral Westmoreland zGeneral Westmoreland, late 1967: We can see the “light at the end of the tunnel.”

The Tet Offensive, January 1968 zN. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon) zTake every major southern city zU.S. + ARVN beat back the offensive zViet Cong destroyed zN. Vietnamese army debilitated zBUT…it’s seen as an American defeat by the media

The Tet Offensive, January 1968

Impact of the Tet Offensive zDomestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administration zHzHzHzHey, Hey LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?