U.S. History Chapter 26 Section 3

The Korean War Essential Question:

Why did events in Asia and Europe dominate

U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War period?

The Cold War Spreads – Asia During WWII Japan occupies China.

Two opposing groups stop a long civil war and fight together against the Japanese occupation.

Mao Zedong: Communists Chiang Kai-Shek: Nationalists What happens after WWII?

Chinese Civil War

What country supports the Nationalists?United States

What country supports the Communists?Soviet Union

Chiang Kai-Shek Mao Zedong

Chinese Civil War U.S. plays peacemaker from 1944-

1947 (still supports the Nationalists).

Truman would not commit U.S. soldiers to fight communism in China.

1949 Communists defeat Nationalists.

Where do Chiang Kai-Shek and Nationalists flee to?

American Reaction to Communist Take Over of

China? Communism is spreading! Containment policy had failed. Shouldn’t the U.S. contain

Communism in Asia just as it had in Europe?

How does this make Truman look in dealing with Communism?

Japan controls Korea from 1910 – 1945. As WWII ends who do Japanese troops

in the North of Korea surrender to? The Soviet Union

What about in the South of Korea?The United States

After these occupying troops leave who claims the right to rule all of Korea?Both North & South Claim the right to rule Korea

Korea38th Parallel?

38th Parallel After WWII U.S. &

U.S.S.R. withdraw troops from Korea.

Line that divides Korea at 38 degrees north latitude.

Not intended as a permanent boundary.

North attacks South in 1950.

The Korean War1950-1953

U.N. Security council passes American resolution to help S. Korea.

Role of the Soviet Union? 520,000 U.N. troops join the

fight – 90% are American. Who is at the command of these

forces? General Douglas MacArthur

The Korean War

Which side has the initial advantage?

N. Korea to quickly takes the city of Seoul.

MacArthur launches a counterattack with tanks and fresh troops from the U.S.

U.S. troops land behind enemy lines at Inchon. Troops meet in the middle and surround North Koreans.

Macarthur becomes a hero to the American public. Goal is met , what next?

Shift from defense to offense? Reunite Korea? Role of China?

The China Syndrome In late November 300,000

Chinese troops pour across the border into N. Korea.

U.N. forces must retreat back below 38th parallel.

For the next two years both sides fight to obtain strategic positions throughout Korea.

War turns into a bloody stalemate.

MacArthur vs. Truman MacArthur

wants full scale war vs. China.

Use of nukes? Truman

disagrees. MacArthur goes

over the President to try and accomplish goals.

MacArthur talks to press and Republican leadership.

Truman will not tolerate this behavior. What happens?

How does the public respond?

Gen. MacArthur President Truman

Effects of Stalemate Korean War ends in a stalemate Lasting effects of the Korean

War:› North Koreans pushed back.› Communism contained without a

world war or the use of nukes. › Increased fear of Communist

aggression across the world, especially within the U.S.

› Korea is still divided. › 54,000 American lives lost, war

costs $22 billion.