The Cold War: The Korean and Vietnam

Wars

Background

• Containment: the American policy of preventing the spread of Communism led to American involvement in several overseas affairs. These fights were against communism, but never technically against the Soviet Union

The Korean War

• After World War II: Korea is divided into Communist North and a Democratic South at the 38th parallel.

• 1950: North Korea, with the aid of the Soviet Union, invaded South Korea, pushing the South Koreans to the Southeast part of the nation.

•On June 25, 1950 - North Koreans surprise attacked the south •Truman thought the Soviets ( North Koreans) were trying to take over the Eastern Hemisphere and turn it communist•He put his containment policy into effect and US helped the South Koreans resist communism

• November 1950: American and South Korean troops push back and force the fighting almost to border between Korea and China.– The Chinese felt

threatened, and entered the fight on the side of the Communist North.

• 1951: War rages back and forth over the country. – Douglas MacArthur,

Commander of the American forces, calls for nuclear war and is refused.

•The Chinese army defeated the UN troops, capturing Seoul in 1951•By 1952- the UN was able to push the North back up North•In July 1953- The UN forced North Korean to sign a cease fire•Border set at 38th parallel•5 million troops died

• 1953: Cease-fire agreement signed between North Korea and the allied American/South Korean forces. – It established a new

border between the Koreas at the 38th parallel.

• Today: Korea remains divided between a communist North Korea and a democratic South Korea.

Aftermath of the Korean War

NORTH KOREA• In North Korea, Kim Il Sung

established collective farms and built up the military• In 1994 Kim Jong Il took power

•developed nuclear weapons•Food shortages•Fuel shortages•Economic problems

Aftermath of the Korean War

South Korea• South Korean prospered thanks to the US aid•Free elections•High economic growth

• Communist North Koreans firmly opposed reunification

Vietnam• Before World War II:

Vietnam is owned by France for its resources and trade purposes.

• After World War II: France regains control of Vietnam, but the people of Vietnam wanted to rule their own nation– By the 1950s the US had

begun providing financial aid to the former French colony, hoping they would resist communist pressure from China• Truman’s Containment

Policy

• France controlled Indochina• Nationalist movements broke out, headed

by Ho Chi Minh, a communist• During WWII Japan took over till 1945• After Japan left Ho Chi Minh thought

they would get independence• France thought differently and wanted to

remain in control

War Breaks Out• Vietnamese Nationalists and Communists

joined to fight the French • In 1954 the French surrendered • The US had supported the French and

when the French left they thought all of Asia would fall to communism

• Tensions Increase: the South Vietnamese nationalist leader, Ngo Dinh Diem, although supported by the United States, is very unpopular with the people.– His government is overthrown and he is

assassinated. – The people of Vietnam want a unified country

under Ho Chi Minh. The Americans are afraid of the domino theory, and so begin to fight to keep Vietnam from communism.• Domino theory: the theory that if one country

falls to communism, the rest will soon fall.• Comes from the policy of containment.

Containment

Domino Theory

• The War: The Vietnam War rages for many years. – Fought between the Vietcong (the Communist

guerrilla army) and the North Vietnamese army vs. the army of the United States. • The United States is at a disadvantage because they are

not used to fighting a group that uses hit and run tactics.

– By 1965, due to heavy casualties and few victories, the war is losing support in the United States.

– By 1975, all the Americans are removed from the country and Vietnam is now owned by the people again.

Tunnels

Bouncing Betty

Punji Spikes

Punji Pit

Trip Wire

Aftermath of the War

• 1.5 million Vietnamese died• 58,000 Americans died • After 1975, many Southern

Vietnamese were sent to “reeducation camps” to learn about communism• 1.5 million people left Vietnam

• Vietnam Today: A unified communist country that trades frequently with the United States.

• Processing: How did the US policy of containment contribute to these conflicts?

Cambodia

• Vietnam was not the only problem in Asia• Cambodia also suffered US bombings• In 1975 Communist Rebels known as the

Khmer Rouge set up a brutal communist government, under Pol Pot

• Killed 2 million• In 1978 the Vietnamese finally took over and

overthrow Pol Pot• 1993 Cambodia under UN supervision

adopted democracy and had free elections• 1997- Pol Pot was captured and jailed

Cuban Missile Crisis

Coming Up…• Fidel Castro – leader in Cuba• Kennedy – president of the U.S.• USSR setting up missiles in Cuba• U.S. spy discovered the sites• Missiles in Cuba viewed as a threat

by the U.S. government• USSR refused to back down• Closest the world has come to

another nuclear war