domino theory 38 th parallel President Truman United Nations (UN) General MacArthur 1950 - 1953 stalemate 1965 - 1973 cease-fire agreement 1975 Socialist Republic of Vietnam demilitarized zone • Korea was divided after WWII at the 38 th parallel • North = Communist; South = Democratic • 1950 – North Korea invades South Korea • President Truman sends US troops to help the south, along with UN troops led by General MacArthur • China attacks UN forces, making them retreat •1953 – war ends in a stalemate •Korean peninsula still remains divided today • 1954 – Vietnam was divided into North & South North = Communist; South = Democratic • US supports South Vietnam in an effort to contain communism • 1965 – US bombs North Vietnam • Over 500,000 US troops fought in the war; close to 50,000 died • In 1973, after years of protest against the war, the US withdraws troops from Vietnam • the war ended in a cease-fire agreement • 1975 – North Vietnam takes over South Vietnam and the country is united under communist rule as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam will understand will analyze Domino Theory