1. Chapter 18 Section 2 Notes Origins of The Cold War in Asia

2. Struggle for Power in China
Had been going on before WWII (since 1927)
Nationalists (led by Chiang Kai-Shek)
In charge before and during WWII
U.S. provided $3 billion in aid during war
Fought against Japanese
Used traditional military tactics
Govt. was corrupt
not well liked by commoners
Communists (led by Mao Zedong)
Gradually gained support before WWII
Became popular with commoners
Promised land, food, education
Put aside differences with Nationalists
during WWII to fight “a common enemy”
Fought separate from Nationalists
Less casualties
Used guerilla war tactics

3. Civil War continues after WWII (1946 – 1949)
Nationalists supported by U.S.
Sent $2 billion in aide
Form of containment
No troops
Communists supported by Soviets
Sent unknown amount in aide
Communists eventually win
Mao becomes leader
New Govt. Formed
People’s Republic of China

4. U.S. Reaction to Communist victory in China
U.S. Govt. refused to officially acknowledge the new govt.
Truman’s administration criticized for not giving more $ to Nationalists.
Accusations started to fly that there were Communist agents in the U.S. govt.
More in Sec. 3

5. Origins of Korean War Japan controlled Korean peninsula before WWII
At end of WWII
Japanese troops North of 38th
Parallel surrender to Soviet troops
Becomes Communist – North Korea (Pyongyang)
Led By Kim Il Sung
Japanese troops South of 38th
Parallel surrender to U.S. troops
Becomes Democratic – South Korea (Seoul)
Seoul is traditional capital city of entire peninsula
Led by Syngman Rhee
Syngman
Kim

6. Buildup to Korean War
U.S. slowly withdraws its military from S. Korea after WWII
By 1949, only 500 troops still there
N. Korea sees this as an opportunity to unify the Korean peninsula under one Communist rule
Get supplies from Soviet Union and China
No troops (at 1st)
Surprise attack begins June, 1950
Almost capture all of S. Korea
Controlled 90% of it in 1st 3 months
Map #2 in textbook pg. 613

7. United Nations votes to help
Unanimous
Soviets don’t vote
China & N Korea not in it yet
Over 500,000 troops sent to help S. Korea (90% were U.S.)
S. Korea forms army of 600,000.
Entire army led by General MacArthur
U.N. army wins all territory back and takes 70% of the area of N. Korea
Map #3 in textbook on pg. 613

8. China enters the fight
China doesn’t want an entirely democratic Korean peninsula bordering them
Sent about 1.3 million troops across the Yalu River
Pushes back U.N. and S. Korean army
Recaptures all of N. Korea and around 10% of the area of S. Korea
including capital of Seoul
U.N. Army recaptures Seoul and rest of S. Korea
Chinese propaganda during Korean War
Chinese army before crossing the Yalu

9. Gen. MacArthur wants to attack China
Would break the stalemate
Proposes full scale bombing runs
Even suggests using nuclear weapons
Publicly criticized Truman for being “weak”
Most of American public agreed with
him at the time

10. Truman Fires MacArthur
Truman doesn’t want to start a much larger conflict
Soviets have nuclear weapons by now
After repeated warnings to remain quiet
and follow orders, MacArthur gets fired
MacArthur returns to the U.S. a hero
Has a parade
Lots of interviews with the press
Over time, most people think
Truman made the right call
MacArthur’s parade in NY

12. Overall Impact of Korean War
Stalemate between the 2 sides for 2 years before armistice (mid 1953)
Never sign a peace treaty (still none to this day!)
Very little territory changes. Basically the same as before the war.
Death Tolls (estimates include Korean civilians)
54,000 UN Troops (50,000 from U.S.)
150,000 S. Koreans
250,000 Chinese
350,000 N. Koreans
Outcome? = seen as a failure
WHY?
U.S. spent about $67 billion
Original objective achieved
S. Korea remains Democratic
Didn’t change N. Korea
It remains Communist
Still trouble today!!!

14. Satellite Image of the Korean Peninsula at Night (2010)
This is a NASA satellite image of the Korean peninsula at night (with the coast artificially outlined to differentiate between land and water). This visual shows how two nations (born at the same time) have progressed over the course of the past 60+ years. 
Democratic, capitalist South Korea has a thriving economy and gleams with prosperity while totalitarian, communist North Korea is kept in the dark with numerous oppressive rules.  

15. Political Impact of Korean War in U.S.
Democrats lose the Presidency
Eisenhower (Repub) elected in 1952
1st Republican Pres. in 20 years
Former military General in WWII
MacArthur ran as a 3rd party candidate
Didn’t get Republican nomination
Fear of Communism spreading to U.S.
Want strong leadership (see above)