THE KOREAN WAR
THE KOREAN WARTHE KOREAN WAR
Setting the SceneSetting the Scene
“America’s forgotten war”
Americans struggled to push back the Communists, who had made huge advances
Both sides dug into their positions
“sitting war”
“America’s forgotten war”
Americans struggled to push back the Communists, who had made huge advances
Both sides dug into their positions
“sitting war”
RootsRoots Chinese Civil War Foreign powers exerted influence on and held some small possessions of Chinese territory
Japan and Germany were involved Japan got control of German possessions there after WWI, increasing Japanese power in China
China called for a stronger, more independent countryDemocracy, nationalism, or communism
Chinese Civil War Foreign powers exerted influence on and held some small possessions of Chinese territory
Japan and Germany were involved Japan got control of German possessions there after WWI, increasing Japanese power in China
China called for a stronger, more independent countryDemocracy, nationalism, or communism
Nationalist PartyNationalist Party
Nationalists in the north (Jiang Jieshi)
Communists in the south (Mao Zedong) around Shanghai
This led to a civil war in 1927 when Jiang sent troops to attack the Communists and their supporters
Nationalists in the north (Jiang Jieshi)
Communists in the south (Mao Zedong) around Shanghai
This led to a civil war in 1927 when Jiang sent troops to attack the Communists and their supporters
MaoMao Gained support for the Communist cause by redistributing land to the peasants and offering the schooling and health care.
This division continued for a long time between the groups, after WWII
Nationalists lost support b/c of their harsh treatment of the population, high taxes, and corruption
Mao’s land reforms and his promise of equality and military victories led Communists to power in 1949
Nationalists fled to Taiwan
Gained support for the Communist cause by redistributing land to the peasants and offering the schooling and health care.
This division continued for a long time between the groups, after WWII
Nationalists lost support b/c of their harsh treatment of the population, high taxes, and corruption
Mao’s land reforms and his promise of equality and military victories led Communists to power in 1949
Nationalists fled to Taiwan
Dividing KoreaDividing Korea
Before WWI, Japan also annexed the Korean peninsula
Harsh rule by the JapaneseKoreans hoped that the defeat of Japan would lead to restoration of their own power
WWII ended before the plans for Korean independence could be worked out
Before WWI, Japan also annexed the Korean peninsula
Harsh rule by the JapaneseKoreans hoped that the defeat of Japan would lead to restoration of their own power
WWII ended before the plans for Korean independence could be worked out
38th Parallel38th ParallelAllies agreed on a temporary solution
Soviet soldiers accepted the surrender of Japanese troops north of the 38th parallel, which was the latitude line running across Korea at the midpoint of the peninsula
Americans did the same south of the parallel
It was never meant to be permanent
It created a Soviet-occupied northern zone and an American occupied southern zone
Allies agreed on a temporary solution
Soviet soldiers accepted the surrender of Japanese troops north of the 38th parallel, which was the latitude line running across Korea at the midpoint of the peninsula
Americans did the same south of the parallel
It was never meant to be permanent
It created a Soviet-occupied northern zone and an American occupied southern zone
Korean WarKorean WarKoreans wanted to unify their nation on both sides of the line
North Korean troops streamed across the 38th parallel, hoping to reunite Korea by force
Americans thought this was Soviet-led, a case of aggression
Truman felt that if the Americans did not respond, Communism would spread
He believed WWIII would start if the US did not intervene
Koreans wanted to unify their nation on both sides of the line
North Korean troops streamed across the 38th parallel, hoping to reunite Korea by force
Americans thought this was Soviet-led, a case of aggression
Truman felt that if the Americans did not respond, Communism would spread
He believed WWIII would start if the US did not intervene
UN Police ActionUN Police Action
The UN blocked Communist China’s admission to the UN in 1949
Soviets walked out in protest Thus could not exercise its veto power when Truman brought up the issue of North Korean aggression to the UN
The US gained unanimous approval for resolutions that branded North Korea as an aggressor
The UN blocked Communist China’s admission to the UN in 1949
Soviets walked out in protest Thus could not exercise its veto power when Truman brought up the issue of North Korean aggression to the UN
The US gained unanimous approval for resolutions that branded North Korea as an aggressor
Truman’s stepsTruman’s steps
Protected TaiwanOrdered US air and naval support for the South Koreans
Sent ground troops inHe did NOT go to Congress and ask for a declaration of war, but Congress was very supportive
UN set up 16 nations to contribute troops or arms, but the US was 80% of the force
Protected TaiwanOrdered US air and naval support for the South Koreans
Sent ground troops inHe did NOT go to Congress and ask for a declaration of war, but Congress was very supportive
UN set up 16 nations to contribute troops or arms, but the US was 80% of the force
Douglas MacArthurDouglas MacArthur
MacArthur was Truman’s choice to lead the UN forces in Korea
Based in JapanResponsible for establishing western democracy there and for creating Japan’s new democratic constitution
MacArthur was Truman’s choice to lead the UN forces in Korea
Based in JapanResponsible for establishing western democracy there and for creating Japan’s new democratic constitution
North Korean advance
North Korean advance
North Korean troops swept through South Korea in a few weeks
MacArthur defended Pusan, and then landed troops at Inchon in NW South Korea and attacked enemy supply lines from behind
The strategy worked, and the North Koreans fled back across the 38th parallel
North Korean troops swept through South Korea in a few weeks
MacArthur defended Pusan, and then landed troops at Inchon in NW South Korea and attacked enemy supply lines from behind
The strategy worked, and the North Koreans fled back across the 38th parallel
China’s warningChina’s warningChina was concerned that the South Koreans and Americans would take power
They threatened the US not to advance any further
MacArthur ignored them“Home by Christmas” drive: Nov. 24, 1950, designed to drive the enemy across the North Korean border at the Yalu River in to China and end the war
China was concerned that the South Koreans and Americans would take power
They threatened the US not to advance any further
MacArthur ignored them“Home by Christmas” drive: Nov. 24, 1950, designed to drive the enemy across the North Korean border at the Yalu River in to China and end the war
That didn’t work...
That didn’t work...
Chinese troops poured across the Yalu River into North Korea to take the offensive
Chinese and North Korean troops pushed the UN forces back into South Korea
Led to a stalemate
Chinese troops poured across the Yalu River into North Korea to take the offensive
Chinese and North Korean troops pushed the UN forces back into South Korea
Led to a stalemate
MacArthur’s next steps
MacArthur’s next steps
Wanted to open a second front to break stalemate
He wanted Jiang’s forces at Taiwan to return to the Chinese mainland to attack the Chinese Communists
Truman was opposed to this, fearing it could lead to a widespread war in Asia
Wanted to open a second front to break stalemate
He wanted Jiang’s forces at Taiwan to return to the Chinese mainland to attack the Chinese Communists
Truman was opposed to this, fearing it could lead to a widespread war in Asia
The letterThe letter
MacArthur sent a letter to House Minority Leader Joseph Martin in March 1951
Attacked the president’s policies
Martin made the letter publicOn April 11th, Truman fired MacArthur for insubordination
He received a hero’s welcome when he came back
MacArthur sent a letter to House Minority Leader Joseph Martin in March 1951
Attacked the president’s policies
Martin made the letter publicOn April 11th, Truman fired MacArthur for insubordination
He received a hero’s welcome when he came back
War continues...War continues...The war dragged on for over two more years
Truman now very unpopular, did not have a good approval rating
Eisenhower came in, wanted peace talks
Ike threatened to use atomic weapons
A truce was signed in 1953, leaving Korea divided at about the 38th parallel
The war dragged on for over two more years
Truman now very unpopular, did not have a good approval rating
Eisenhower came in, wanted peace talks
Ike threatened to use atomic weapons
A truce was signed in 1953, leaving Korea divided at about the 38th parallel
Effects of the war
Effects of the war
54,000 American soldiers killed
103,000 woundedLimited results: why the deaths?
Communist forces were pushed back
Containment occurred without nuclear war
54,000 American soldiers killed
103,000 woundedLimited results: why the deaths?
Communist forces were pushed back
Containment occurred without nuclear war
Other effects...Other effects...Korean War was the first in which white and African Americans served in the same units
Huge increase in military spending
By 1960, 1/2 of budget went to defense
1/2 million soldiers stationed around the world: permanent mobilization
Military-industrial complex: employed 3.5 million Americans by 1960: kept the arsenal going
Korean War was the first in which white and African Americans served in the same units
Huge increase in military spending
By 1960, 1/2 of budget went to defense
1/2 million soldiers stationed around the world: permanent mobilization
Military-industrial complex: employed 3.5 million Americans by 1960: kept the arsenal going
Relations with Japan
Relations with Japan
US signed a peace treaty with Japan in 1951
Korean war did ruin relations with Communist China
US signed a peace treaty with Japan in 1951
Korean war did ruin relations with Communist China