The Korean War

Why does it matter today?

I. Background

• During WWII, Russian troops occupied N. Korea and US troops in S. Korea

• 1949, both set up rival regimes at 38th parallel

• US determined Korea outside of essential defense perimeter

38th Parallel

38th Parallel

Kim Il-Sung (North Korea)

II. Fighting Begins

• N. Korea and Soviet-made tanks invade (phase 1)

• Truman implemented NSC-68

• UN condemnation and support for S. Korea

• UN put Truman and MacArthur in charge of war

• September 1950: N. Korea had nearly all of peninsula (phase 2)

III. UN Counterattack

• MacArthur’s surprise landing at Inchon

• Pushes N. Koreans back toward Chinese border (phase 3)

• UN calls for unified Korea

• Chinese respond and force UN to 38th parallel (phase 4)

Battle at Inchon

Phases of Korean War

IV. MacArthur vs. Truman

• MacArthur wants to invade China

• Truman wants “limited war”

• MacArthur disobeys orders from President

• Truman fires MacArthur

• Significance: constitutional principle of civilian control of military is reaffirmed

Truman and MacArthur

V. End of War

• 2 years of negotiations • Eisenhower wins 1952 election on Korean War

platform• 1953 cease-fire still in effect today• DMZ established at 38th parallel with US troops

still present• 4 million dead • No clear conclusion• US successfully enforced “containment” policy

Memory Aid for Cold War under President Truman:

• Truman’s Truman Doctrine, 1947• Muscles Marshall Plan, 1947• Brought Berlin Crisis, 1948-49• Nasty NATO, 1948• China China becomes communist, 1949• Across Atomic bomb exploded by Soviets, 1949• Korea Korean War, 1950-53