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