The Cold War: The Korean and Vietnam Wars

Background

• Containment: the American policy of preventing the spread of Communism led to American involvement in several overseas affairs. These fights were against communism, but never technically against the Soviet Union

The Korean War

• After World War II: Korea is divided into Communist North and a Democratic South at the 38th parallel.

• 1950: North Korea, with the aid of the Soviet Union, invaded South Korea, pushing the South Koreans to the Southeast part of the nation.

• November 1950: American and South Korean troops push back and force the fighting almost to border between Korea and China.– The Chinese felt

threatened, and entered the fight on the side of the Communist North.

• 1951: War rages back and forth over the country. – Douglas MacArthur,

Commander of the American forces, calls for nuclear war and is refused.

• 1953: Cease-fire agreement signed between North Korea and the allied American/South Korean forces. – It established a new

border between the Koreas at the 38th parallel.

• Today: Korea remains divided between a communist North Korea and a democratic South Korea.

Vietnam• Before World War II: Vietnam is

owned by France for its resources and trade purposes.

• After World War II: France regains control of Vietnam, but the people of Vietnam wanted to rule their own nation– A war was fought between Ho Chi

Minh (leader of the Vietnamese Communist party), his followers, and France.

– In 1954, a peace treaty is signed dividing Vietnam at the 17th parallel.

– The north is Communist, run by Ho Chi Minh, and the south belongs to the French and their supporters.

• Tensions Increase: the South Vietnamese nationalist leader, Ngo Dinh Diem, although supported by the United States, is very unpopular with the people.– His government is overthrown and he is assassinated. – The people of Vietnam want a unified country under Ho

Chi Minh. The Americans are afraid of the domino theory, and so begin to fight to keep Vietnam from communism.• Domino theory: the theory that if one country falls to

communism, the rest will soon fall.• Comes from the policy of containment.

Containment

Domino Theory

• The War: The Vietnam War rages for many years. – Fought between the Vietcong (the Communist guerrilla

army) and the North Vietnamese army vs. the army of the United States. • The United States is at a disadvantage because they are not

used to fighting a group that uses hit and run tactics. – By 1965, due to heavy casualties and few victories, the

war is losing support in the United States.– By 1975, all the Americans are removed from the

country and Vietnam is now owned by the people again.

Tunnels

Bouncing Betty

Punji Spikes

Punji Pit

Trip Wire

• Vietnam Today: A unified communist country that trades frequently with the United States.

To Do

• On a blank piece of paper, create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the Vietnam War– Things to consider:

• what was the country like before the war• what was the country like after the war • American involvement • role of guerilla warfare• the division of the nation• the role of the American policy of containment• the location of the war