The Korean War began in 1950 when North Korean troops invaded South Korea, crossing the 38th parallel dividing line. The United Nations authorized an international force led by the US to defend South Korea. General Douglas MacArthur's forces pushed the North Koreans back but China then entered the war on North Korea's side, driving UN forces back. The war became a stalemate along the 38th parallel and dragged on for over two more years until an armistice was signed in 1953, leaving Korea divided. The war had major effects including over 50,000 US casualties and the beginning of permanent US military mobilization and spending during the Cold War.

1. THE KOREAN WAR

3. 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”

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. Effects of the war
54,000 American soldiers killed
103,000 wounded
Limited results
Communist forces were pushed
back
Containment occurred without
nuclear war

23. 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

24. Relations with Japan
US signed a peace treaty with
Japan in 1951
Korean War did ruin relations
with Communist China