1. Korean War and Vietnam Conflict
Cold War Conflicts
Korean War and Vietnam Conflict

2. Why did we fight these wars?
Containment- stop the spread of communism
Domino Theory- if one country fell to communism, the neighboring countries would fall to communism as well.
Korean- North Korea and China(communist) vs. U.S. and South Korea (democracy)
Vietnam- North Vietnam (communist) vs. U.S. and South Vietnam (democracy)

5. Korean War Background
During WWII, Japan controlled the Korean Peninsula
After WWII, U.S.S.R. controlled Korea north of 38th parallel and U.S. controlled Korea south of 38th parallel

6. Korean War “The Forgotten War” (1950-1953)
Started in June 1950
North Korea invaded South Korea
U.S. appealed to the United Nations
16 nations came to help South Korea

7. Korean War North Korean advanced all the way to Pusan.
Americans pushed the North Koreans back north to the Yalu River
China comes to the defense of North Korea
Fighting was at a deadlock
Ceasefire in July 1953

8. Results of Korean War
Korea divided at 38th parallel (North and South Korea)
U.S. casualties:
178,000 KIA
566,000 wounded
North Korea/China:
367, ,000 KIA
686, ,000 wounded
Civilians: 2.5 million killed/wounded

9. Leaders in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh (North Vietnam)
Ngo Dinh Diem (South Vietnam)
Agreed to unify Vietnam in 1956
Diem refused to hold elections because Ho Chi Minh would win (U.S. backed his decision)

10. Start of Vietnam conflict
Communist rebel group opposed Diem (Viet Cong)
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
U.S. war ships reported taking fire from the North Vietnamese.
President Johnson uses this incident to send more American troops
By 1968, 536,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam

11. Tet Offensive January 30 and 31st, 1968
Surprise attack on more than 100 cities throughout Vietnam on their lunar New Year.
Turning point of the war (losing battle for the U.S.)

12. End of the conflict Conflict was very unpopular in the U.S.
Jan the U.S. agreed to withdraw all of its troops
April 30, 1975 North Vietnamese captured Saigon (war was over)

13. Vietnam War Casualties
U.S.-
58,000 KIA
300,000 wounded
South Vietnamese-
200, ,000 KIA
North Vietnamese-
500,000-1 million