The Cold War Heats Up:The Cold War in the Pacific

Essential Question:

What are differences between Chaing Kia-shek and Mao Zedong

How do they compare to President Truman and General MacArthur on

politics and War on the Korean Peninsula.

Truman’s Speech• Read through Truman’s Speech on Firing

MacArthur and answer these questions:– Provide evidence from the speech to address

what Truman’s objective for the war is.– What impression does he want the audience to

have concerning General MacArthur, cite evidence.

– Do you think, according to his speech, Americans will approve or disapprove and why?

– Discuss with a partner, then with the whole class

Containment in Southeast Asia

• We discussed in the last lesson America’s attempt to stop the spread of communism

• The first area of focus was on Europe• Then the focus shifted to Asia – Why– Because that was exactly where communism had

spread!

• This shift from one continent to another to stop the spread of communism was called the domino effect

China Becomes a Communist Country

In 1945 China was under a nationalistic gov’t lead by Chiang Kai-shek US supported him Between 1945-1949 US sends China $3 billion in aid

The Americans favored him and his ability to defend China during Japanese invasion in WWII

However, US officials who dealt with him personally disagreed They found his gov’t inefficient and corrupt

Mao Zedong• Enter Mao Zedong – Communist Party– Gained strength throughout the country– In the areas the Communist Party controlled,

Mao worked to win peasant support• The party encouraged them to read and helped

them improve food production

– Result – more and more people chose to join Mao’s Red Army• 1945 – much of Northern China became under

Communists control

Renewed Civil War• As soon as the Japanese left China at the end of WWII,

the Nationalists and Communists ceased cooperation• Americans favored nationalists because they opposed

communism– 1944-1947 – Ame was

peacekeeper b/w the 2– However, US officials

failed to succeed most of the time

– Truman refused to send US military backup to the nationalists – we already sent $2 billion

Communism Wins• The weak, abusive Nationalists failed while

communism gained ground• In May 1949 – Chiang and his followers fled

to Taiwan• After 20 years, Communism ruled all of

mainland China• They called their new government the

People’s Republic of China– US refused to accept it as a true government– China refuses to accept Taiwan as an

independent nation

America Reacts to Communist Takeover

American people were stunned! Containment failed – again! Gov’t attacked Truman for doing too little

If containment in Europe was so important, why not in China?

US officials said it was due to internal forces And doing more might have lead to another war Some said this was a lame excuse and that US

gov’t was full of communist agents Like a wildfire, fear began to burn out of

control

The Korean War Japan annexed Korea in

1910 and ruled it until 1945

After WWII, Japanese troops north of the 38th Parallel surrendered to the Soviets

Japanese south of the line surrendered to America

Germany all over againRepublic of Korea

• South• Democratic• Helped by America• Headed by Syngman Rhee• Capital in Seoul

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

• North• Communists• Helped by Soviet Union• Headed by Kim Il Sung• Capital in Pyongyang

North Attacks South• Ame starts to rescind its control and by

June 1950, only 500 Ame troops were left• North Korea took this as a weakness and

opportunity to incite terror• On June 25th, 1950 North Korea attacks

South Korea calling it the Korean War• Within days the North forces had deeply

swept into the South• Seemed unstoppable – captured Seoul– Within months SK troops pushed into small

defensive area

Effects of Korean War• SK asked US for help• When UN voted on this help,

SU was not at meeting– They were boycotting the

UN because of its recognition of democratically run Taiwan

• Plus – Soviet Union could not vote against it – It was then passed

• On June 27th, Truman tells troops stationed in Japan to support SK

• Also sent American fleet to Taiwan

Response• In all, 16 nations sent

520,000 troops to help SK prevent a NK take-over

• Over 90 % of the troops were America

• SK troops added 590,000 more men

• The combined forces were put under General Douglas MacArthur’s leadership (WII Pacific hero)

US Fights in Korea• MacArthur’s Counterattack– 2 groups surprise NK troops

• 1. amphibious landing behind enemy lines on west coast in Inchon• 2. land troops moved north from Pusan

– NK becomes trapped between the two forces• ½ of their forces surrender while the rest fled

– UN troops chased them across the 38th parallel and set up across enemy lines

The Chinese Fight Back• China had other plans – counterattack of their

own – remember, communist now• Leader Zhou En-lai said he would not stand idly by

while communist North Korea was being pushed out of the south

• Late Nov. 1950 – 300,000 Chinese troops joined with North Korea– Wanted NK to be buffer state to Manchuria– Weary of US presence in ocean

• Turned into a war between Chinese and Americans

• Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia.

Outcome• Chinese drove the South Koreans and American

troops south• Chinese outnumbered UN troops 10 to 1• By January 1951, UN and South K troops were

pushed back across the line• Once again, Seoul gets captured by Chinese

communist troops• MacArthur, “We face an entirely new war”• The following 2 yrs no major advances made, just

some small movements through hills

MacArthur Recommends Attacking China

• 1951 – MacArthur calls for extension of war into China

• MacArthur was convinced that North K would be medium for Nuclear attack, so he asked for approval to use nuclear weapons first– Was NOT approved by Truman

• Soviets had an agreement with China – war with China meant war with Soviets – WWIII?!

• Instead, UN and South K began gaining grounds, again lead by Matthew B. Ridgeway– By 1951, he had taken back Seoul and back up

to 38th parallel

MacArthur Versus Truman• MacArthur was not satisfied with re-capture of

South K• He still insisted on waging full war against China– Tries to go over Truman’s head by speaking privately

with newspapers/magazines– They said he had no authority to do it

• Truman was just as stubborn– April 11, 1951 – fired MacArthur– People were upset that their hero was fired– 69% of Americans backed the General– After he had his glory on return to US, Truman

released info about his attempted sabotage – US changed mind and favored Truman

Settling for Stalemate

• The Soviet Union unexpectedly suggested a cease-fire on June 23, 1951– Truce talks began in July 19

• Agreement on two points1.Location of cease-fire line at existing battle line2.Establishment of a demilitarized zone

• Another year was spent on POW arrangements

• July 1963 – Agreement is made and signed

Back to Where We Started – and For What?

• Korea is still split• Border has not changed – still at 38th parallel• Communism still present in China and North Korea• US lost 54,000 lives• $67 billion in expenditures to tax payers

• Lack of success made America choose a Republican majority Government

• Eisenhower elected in 1952• And in North Korea . . .

Recent Concerns in North Korea

Kim Jong-Il• He was the Chairman of the National

Defense Commission • General Secretary of the Workers' Party of

Korea– the ruling party since 1948

• The Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army – the fourth largest standing army in the world.

• In April 2009, North Korea's constitution was amended and now implicitly refers to him as the "Supreme Leader”

A New Leader to the Dynasty

• Kim Jong-Il died in December of 2011• His son, Kim Jong-Un is now the new leader of

North Korea, and he is just as trigger happy as his father and grandfather, Kim Il-Sung

• He is only 29 years old and is already trying to outdo his predecessors by increasing fear in his people and the rest of the world

Answer the Essential Question

• What are differences between Chaing Kia-shek and Mao Zedong, and between President Truman and General MacArthur on politics and War on the Korean Peninsula.