Transcript Results of Korean War - Bartlett High School

Opening Assignment
•What could happen if
the US got involved in a
total war with one of
the USSR’s allies?
•How could this
possibly be avoided?
• Essential Learning Goal:
• The Cold War between the Soviet Union and
United States helped shape the culture, history,
and politics of the United States during the 20th
Century.
• Learning Targets:
• I can identify the participants in the Chinese civil war and
the eventual victor.
• I can explain the cause and result of the Korean War on
Korea and the United States.
• I can analyze the US policy of “containment”, the Truman
Doctrine and its impact on the Korean War.
• I can recognize the significance of limited war in helping to
avoid nuclear war.
III. Cold War: Harry Truman --- Foreign Policy
(1949)- Mao Zedong leads Communist takeover
in China during a civil war.
REACTION:
Increased fears of
communist domination
U.S. spent $3 Billion in
support of Nationalist,
Chiang Kai-shek, only
to have failed!
($2 Billion worth of military
supplies and equipment)
III. Cold War:
In 1948 South Korea
becomes a democratic
republic and North
Korea becomes a
Communist nation.
Kim Il-Sung;
Kim Jong-Il;
Kim Jong-un
The leader of N. Korea
is Kim Il-Sung (40’s –
80’s). Grandfather of
the current N. Korean
leader.
After US Army forces
leaves the South,
N. Korea attempts to
unite Korea by force.
III. Cold War: Harry Truman --- Foreign Policy Korean
War (19501953):
(June, 1950)
Communist North
Korea
invades across the
38th parallel,
attacking
democratic South
Korea
Apply Cold
War policy:
What should be
the main
objective in the
Korean War?
III. Cold War: Harry Truman --- Foreign Policy
U.N. troops
(made up of
90%
Americans)
defend South
Korea
Led by
General
Douglas
MacArthur
III. Cold War: Harry Truman --- Foreign Policy
300,000
Communist
Chinese
troops come
into war
on side of
North Korea
and drive the
U.N. army
back into the
South.
III. Cold War: Harry Truman --- Foreign Policy
-As the war was
stalemated along the initial
border, the 38th parallel,
US General Douglas
MacArthur suggests that
the US needs to attack
China because that was the
place “where the
communist conspirators
have elected to make their
play for global conquest.”
-He even recommends the use of nuclear weapons
against Chinese cities as a solution to breaking
the stalemate.
III. Cold War: Harry Truman --- Foreign Policy
President Harry S. Truman and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff decided that attacking China would be “the wrong war, at the
wrong place, at the wrong time, and with the wrong enemy.”
One reason for this decision was that China had a mutual defense
alliance with the Soviet Union.
General MacArthur criticized the President and other leaders in the
media and argued that the war should be a total war against our
enemies.
THINK:
Do you think President
President Truman decided to fire
Truman handled this issue in
MacArthur in April 1951 even though the best possible manner?
he had a 70% popularity with the
How did MacArthur’s past
American public.
success affect his judgment
about this war?
III. Cold War: Harry Truman --- Foreign Policy
When he returned to the US General MacArthur was given a
tickertape parade and he was allowed to make a speech before the
US Congress.
This was an honor usually reserved for heads of foreign
governments ONLY.
At his address he closed his comments with the observation “Old
soldiers never die, they just fade away.”
The President instead focuses on
limiting the war and working toward
a peace treaty.
THINK:
How did limited war
versus total war help
keep from escalating
the Korean conflict?
III. Cold War: Harry Truman --- Foreign Policy
Results of
Korean War:
Stalemate at the
38th parallel
54,000 Americans die
& billions of Dollars
were spent.
THINK:
Was the objective of the
Korean War achieved?
Should more have been done?
Daily Review
1. Who were the participants in the Chinese civil war and
the which side won?
2. Who was Mao Zedong?
3. How did the Korean War begin?
4. What affect did the war have on the United States?
5. How did the US policy of “containment” and the Truman
Doctrine impact the Korean War?
6. Why did President Truman decide to focus on fighting a
limited war instead of a total war?
BONUS QUESTIONS
1. Who is the current leader of N. Korea?
2. How is the current leader of N. Korea related to the past
two leaders?