The Cold War Heats Up

Civil War in China

• During WWII- A Japanese invasion interrupted a long Chinese Civil War

• Communists vs. Nationalists

• Communist leader-Mao Zedong

• Nationalist leader-Chiang Kai-shek

• U.S. aids the nationalists

Civil War in China

• US military officials didn’t like Chiang

• Found his govmt dictatorial, inefficient, and hopelessly corrupt

• Policies of Chiang undermined the Nationalists

Examples of Chiang’s Policies

• collected a grain tax from farmers during a famine

• Secret police fired against protesters protesting against a 10,000% increase in the price of rice

Civil War in China

• Communists skillful in winning support of the peasants

• Communists would redistribute land to peasants and reduce rents

Fighting Breaks Out

• As soon as Japanese left China-civil war resumed

• Americans favored the nationalists because they opposed communists

• 1944 to 47 US tried to play peacemaker between 2 groups-while still supporting nationalists

• Truman refused to commit American soldiers

• US sent $2 billion worth of military equipment and supplies

Fighting Breaks Out• Nationalist problems:

– Weak military leadership– Corrupt– Abusive practices drove

peasants to the communists

• May 1949- Chiang and the remnants of his govmt and army fled to Taiwan– An island east of

mainland China

America Reacts to Communist Takeover

• American public stunned

• Containment failed• Congress attack

Truman for not supplying enough aid to Chiang

• Shouldn’t containment be important in Asia as well as Europe?

• Many claimed the US “lost” China

• Said American govmt was riddled with Communist agents

• American fear of Communism grew

Koreans go to War

• Japan ruled Korea until 1945

• Japanese north of 38th parallel surrendered to Russians

• South of 38th parallel surrendered to the US

Koreans go to War

• 38th parallel not intended as a permanent boundary

• 2 different nations emerged-one communist, one not

• South Korea becomes Republic of Korea-headed by Syngman Rhee

Koreans go to War

• North becomes Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

• Headed by Kim Il Sung

• By 1949- US and Soviets had left Korea

• Each govmt claimed sole right to rule all Korea

North Korea Attacks South Korea

• June 25, 1950 North invades South-Begins Korean War

• Americans alarmed that another Asian nation may fall to communism

• Truman decides to take military action

• June 27, 1950-UN pledges to help South Korea

• 16 nations with 520,000 troops assist South Korea– Under command of

Douglas MacArthur

US Fights in Korea

• NK unstoppable at 1st

• After 1 month- UN troops forced to small defensive zone around Pusan

MacArthur’s Counterattack

• MacArthur launches counterattack

• Sept 15, 1950 UN troops land at Inchon

• Other troops move north from Pusan

• North Koreans trapped in the middle

MacArthur’s Counterattack

• Many NK troops surrendered

• Many fled back behind 38th parallel

• 10/7/1950- UN recommends MacArthur cross 38th parallel and reunite Korea

• China warned that they would not stand by and let the Americans come to the border-the Yalu River

• MacArthur dismisses Chinese threat

The Chinese Fight Back

• 11/25/1950- 300,000 Chinese move into NK

• By Christmas, Chinese force UN forces 100 miles south of 38th parallel

• 2 more years neither side able to make an advance

MacArthur Recommends Attacking China

• Calls for extension of war into China-to end the stalemate

• Blockade Chinese coast

• Use atomic bombs on China

• Use Chiang Kai Shek’s troops to invade southern China

• Truman rejects MacArthur’s request

• Didn’t want US involved in a massive land war in Asia

• Soviets had a mutual assistance pact with the Chinese– Could set off WWIII

MacArthur Recommends Attacking China

• Instead of attacking China – UN forces advance against Korean forces

• Retake Seoul• Moved back up to the

38th parallel

Settling for a Stalemate

• Soviets suggest a cease-fire on June 23, 1951

• Truce talks began in July 1951

Settling for a Stalemate

• By following Spring, opposing sides agreed on 2 points:

• 1. Location of the ceasefire line at the existing battle line

• 2. Establish a demilitarized zone between the opposing sides

• July 1953- two sides sign an armistice ending the war

• Basically ended in a stalemate

American Victory?

• Communism contained without a world war

• No use of atomic weapons– Although the threat of

using them helped break a negotiation deadlock

Communist Victory?

• North Korea still communist

• Still 2 Koreas rather than 1

Effects of Korean War

• 54,000 Americans killed• Cost between $20 and

$22 billion• High cost of war led to

rejection of Democratic party in 1952– Election of Dwight D.

Eisenhower as President– Increased fear of

communist aggression– Prompted a hunt for spies