1. UNIT 10.9

2.  After WWII, Japan came under the sole control of the U.S.  General MacArthur in charge of reconstruction  New constitution (May 1947) set up a parliamentary democracy in Japan  New constitution limited Japan’s military capabilities  As a result, Japan depended on the military protection of the U.S.

3.  U.S.-Japanese Security Treaty  1951: The occupation of Japan ended with the signing of a peace treaty and Japan agreeing to surrender its claim to Korea and other Pacific islands  A second treaty provided for U.S. troops to remain in military bases in Japan for the country’s protection against external enemies (i.e. Communism)  Japan became a strong ally and prospered under American protection

4.  As soon as WWII ended, a civil war dating back to the 1930s was renewed between Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist party and Chinese Communists led by Mao Zedong  Nationalists were losing popularity because of runaway inflation and widespread corruption; Mao’s Communists successfully appealed to the poorer classes

5.  U.S. attempts to negotiate a peace and an end to the civil war failed  After ruling out a large-scale invasion to rescue Chiang’s retreating forces, the U.S. decided to give the Nationalist government $400 million in aid  80% of this aid ended up in the hands of Mao’s Communists because of corruption and the eventual collapse of the Chiang’s Nationalist government

6.  End of 1949- all of mainland China was under Communist control  Chiang and his Nationalists found refuge on the small island of Formosa (Taiwan) where they established their own government  The U.S. continued to support Chiang and did not formally recognize Chairman Mao’s regime (The People’s Republic of China) until thirty years later in 1979

7.  July 4, 1946- Philippines became an independent republic, but the U.S. retained important naval and air bases there throughout the Cold War

8.  After the defeat of Japan, its former colony Korea was divided at the 38 th parallel by the victors– Soviets in the North and the U.S. in the South  By 1949, both countries withdrew leaving the North in the hands of the Communists led by Kim Il Sung and the South under the control of the conservative Nationalists led by Syngman Rhee

9.  June 25, 1950– North Korean army launches a surprise invasion of South Korea  Truman calls a special session of the U.N. Security Council  Authorized a U.N. force to defend South Korea, led by General MacArthur  Other countries participated, but mostly U.S. troops were sent to help the South Korean army  Congress supported the use of troops, but did not formally declare war– accepted Truman’s explanation that U.S. intervention was a “police action” for containment

10.  At first, the North Koreans were winning and pushed the South Korean/American forces to the southern tip of the peninsula  MacArthur launched a brilliant amphibious assault at Inchon behind North Korean lines  U.N. forces proceeded to wipe out much of the North Korean army and advance almost as far as China

11.  MacArthur ignored China’s warnings that it would resist threats to its security  November 1950: masses of Chinese troops crossed into Korea and overwhelmed U.N. forces in one of the worst defeats in U.S. military history  Drove the U.S. out of North Korea

12.  MacArthur managed to stabilize fighting around the 38 th Parallel  Called for an expanded war:  Bombing and invasion of mainland China  Truman cautioned MacArthur about his statements, especially if they seemed to criticize official policy

13.  MacArthur spoke out anyway and was recalled for insubordination in April 1951  Returned home to a hero’s welcome  His message that “There is no substitute for victory” was better received than Truman’s policies of containment and “limited war”  Truman was criticized for not doing enough to destroy Communism in Asia

14.  As the war dragged on, the fighting was stalemated along a front just north of the 38 th Parallel  Peace talks began in 1951 and dragged on until an armistice was signed in 1953 during the first year of Eisenhower’s presidency  Before the fighting had ended, 54,000 Americans had died in Korea

15. TRUMAN AND THE DEMOCRATS  In one perspective, Truman’s containment policy in Korea was a success  Stopped Communist aggression against South Korea  Prevented the conflict from developing into a world war  Truman administration used the Korean War as justification for expanding the military, funding the new B-52 jet bomber, as well as stationing more U.S. troops in overseas bases REPUBLICANS  Republicans were far from satisfied; criticized Truman and the Democrats for being “too soft on Communism”  Stalemate in Korea  Military defeat to China

16.  What do you think? Were Truman’s containment policies successful in Korea or did we essentially lose the Korean War to Communism?