The Korean War began when North Korean troops invaded South Korea in 1950, crossing the 38th parallel dividing line. The United Nations backed the US-led defense of South Korea in an effort to contain communism. While initial successes were achieved under General Douglas MacArthur, Chinese intervention turned the tide and led to stalemate. MacArthur's advocacy for expanding the war led to his dismissal by President Truman in 1951. An armistice in 1953 cemented the division of Korea along the 38th parallel, with no formal peace treaty ending the war.

1. THE KOREAN WAR

2. Setting 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”

3. Roots
 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 country
Democracy, nationalism, or
communism

4. Nationalist Party
Nationalists in the north
(Chiang Kai-shek)
Communists in the south (Mao
Zedong) around Shanghai
This led to a civil war in 1927
when Chiang sent troops to
attack the Communists and
their supporters

5. Mao
 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

6. Dividing Korea
Before WWI, Japan also annexed
the Korean peninsula
Harsh rule by the Japanese
Koreans 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

7. 38th Parallel
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

9. Korean War
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

10. UN 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

11. Truman’s steps
Protected Taiwan
Ordered US air and naval support
for the South Koreans
Sent ground troops in
He 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

12. Douglas MacArthur
MacArthur was Truman’s
choice to lead the UN forces in
Korea
Based in Japan
Responsible for establishing
western democracy there and
for creating Japan’s new
democratic constitution

13. North Korean advance
North Korean troops swept
through South Korea in a few
weeks
MacArthur defended Pusan (SE
South Korea), and then landed
troops at Inchon (NW South
Korea) and attacked enemy supply
lines from behind
The strategy worked, and the
North Koreans fled back across the
38th parallel

15. China’s warning
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

16. 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

17. 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

18. The letter
MacArthur sent a letter to House
Minority Leader Joseph Martin in
March 1951
Attacked the president’s policies
Martin made the letter public
On April 11th, Truman fired
MacArthur for insubordination
He received a hero’s welcome
when he came back

19. 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

20. Effects of the war
54,000 American soldiers killed
103,000 wounded
Limited results: why the deaths?
Communist forces were pushed
back
Containment occurred without
nuclear war

21. 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

22. Relations with Japan
US signed a peace treaty with
Japan in 1951
Korean war did ruin relations
with Communist China