“The Forgotten War”

The Korean War

President Truman"In my generation, this was not

the first occasion when the strong had attacked the

weak….Communism was acting in Korea just as Hitler,

Mussolini, and the Japanese had acted ten, fifteen, and twenty years earlier. I felt certain that if South Korea was allowed to fall, Communist leaders would

be emboldened to override nations closer to our own

shores."

Three Step Guide On How to Stop Communism

1. ContainmentStop the spread of communism no matter what.

2. Truman DoctrineSupport free nations that were resisting armed

minorities or outside pressure

3. Marshall PlanAid any European nation that would need help as

long as the nation cooperated with other European nations economically.

The China Problem

The Background to Korea

Revolution in ChinaChiang Kai-shek Mao Zedong

Backed by Western Powers Backed by the Soviet Union

Stage OneJune 25th, 1950

Phase ends August 1st, 1950

North Korean forces invade

at 4:00am. Push back

UN/SK troops to the port city

of Pusan. Defeat almost

certain.

Stage TwoAugust 1, 1950

Phase ends November of 1950

General MacArthur leads

a daring counterattack and takes the

port city of Inchon and Seoul. Gets

green light to push forward over the 38th Parallel. No

longer a “police action”, takes Pyongyang.

Stage ThreeNovember 25th, 1950

Phase ends April 22nd, 1951

Over half a million

Chinese troops cross the Yalu River. Harsh

fighting/tactics of Chinese push UN/SK forces back

and lose Seoul for the second

time.

President Truman Dismisses Gen. MacArthurMacArthur desired a direct attack on China.

Truman disagreed, limited supplies to MacArthur. Stage three loses were blamed on Truman. Attempted to gain public support for

invasion by going over President Truman’s head. President Truman dismisses MacArthur as

a result.

A History of the American

People by Paul Johnson“The truth is, Truman kept in mind, which

MacArthur did not, that the object of US

intervention in Korea was not to start a third

world war, but to prevent one.

Stage FourApril 22nd, 1951

Phase ends July 27th, 1953

Stubborn fighting on both

sides sees a stalemate develop as

UN/SK forces push back and

retake Seoul/38th Parallel, again. USSR suggests

cease fire. Armistice signed.

Korea Today

Impact of the Korean War

United States Casualties33,629 battle deaths

20,617 non-hostile deaths103,284 wounded

8,177 missing7,140 POWs

Cost?$54 billion

Impact of the Korean War

Other Casualties415,000 South Korean deaths520,000 North Korean deaths

Unknown Chinese deaths (est. around 250,000)

“Nothing was gained by either side. But America had demonstrated its willingness to defend the policy of containment in battle,

and at the same time prudence in restraining its superior firepower (the Atomic Bomb).”