Transcript Stopping the Spread of Communism: The Korean War 1950-1953

Containment in Action: The
Korean War 1950-1953
Mr. Chris Williams
February 10th, 2009
•Why was the conflict
between the United States
and the Soviet Union called
the Cold War?
•What is containment?
•Why did the U.S. think this
was necessary?
“I believe it must be the policy of
the United States to support free
peoples who are resisting
subjugation [forced control] by
armed minorities or outside
pressures…I believe that our help
should be primarily though
economic stability and orderly
political processes.”
–Truman Doctrine
Marshall Plan
• Purpose: A U.S. financial aid
program to rebuild the economies
of European countries in order to
create stable conditions for
democratic governments
• $13.4 billion in aid to 17 countries
including G.B., France, Italy from
1948 to 1951
Blockade of Berlin
• June 1948, Soviets decided to
block any road, railway, or river
traffic to West Berlin
• Cut off food, coal, and other
necessities
• G.B. and U.S. responded with the
Berlin Airlift to get them supplies
NATO
• U.S., G.B., Belgium, France,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands,
Canada, etc.
• An armed attack against one of
the members was considered an
attack against all
• RESIST COMMUNIST
AGGRESSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Events Leading to Conflict
• Chinese civil war since 1927
• Chang Kai-shek-Nationalists
• Mao Zedong-Communists
• 1949 Mao and the communists took
control and renamed the country the
People’s Republic of China
Kim Il Sung
Syngman Rhee
Korea and the Start of the War
th
• After WWII Korea divided at 38
parallel (North –Communist,
South-Democ.)
• June 25, 1950 North Korean forces
attacked across the 38th parallel
armed with Soviet tanks and
weapons and within days overtook
Seoul
• UN Security Council unanimously
voted to send troops to help the
South under the leadership of the
United States after President Truman
• U.S never declared war and the
whole effort was referred to as a UN
police action
• How was Korean split after WWII?
Who did we support?
• What was the cause of the Korean
War? How was this a part of
containment?
• What was the mandate (objective
of the war) of the United Nations
in Korea?
From Attack to Stalemate
• Under General Douglas MacArthur,
UN forces launched a surprise attack
in September 1950 on city of Inchon
• Pushed North Korean forces back
th
towards the 38 parallel and north of
it despite China’s warnings to America
not to advance towards its borders
• In November Chinese soldiers
attacked South Korean and U.S.
positions as they reached the border
of the Yalu River
• 260,000 Chinese volunteers poured
across the River pushing UN troops
th
back past 38 parallel
• President Truman decided not to use
atomic warfare or a huge
commitment of troops, instead he
favored the policy of limited war
• MacArthur was openly critical of this
strategy, favoring a complete victory,
and was fired for insubordination by
the President
Why engage in limited war?
• “We do not want to see the conflict in
Korea extended. We are trying to prevent
a world war-not to start one…Why can’t
we take other steps to punish the
aggressor? Why don’t we assist Chinese
Nationalist troops to land on mainland
China? If we were to do these things we
would…become entangled in a vast
conflict on the continent of Asia. …”
-President Truman April 11, 1951
• “In war, there is no substitute for
victory. There are some who are
varying reasons would appease
Red China. They are blind to
history’s clear lesson, for history
teachers with unmistakable
emphasis that appeasement but
begets new and bloodier war.”
-General Douglas MacArthur
Victory?
• On July 27, 1953 after Eisenhower’s threat of
nuclear warfare and the death of Josef Stalin,
the two sides agreed to a cease-fire
• Two halves of Korea are still divided to this
day with North Korea being communists allies
with China; and South Korea being our allies
• This stalemate was a key issue in the election
of 1952, with no end in sight, Republican
candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower promising
he would end the war
Immediate Effects
• 37,000 Americans killed, 103,000
Americans wounded, 60,000 UN
troops from other countries killed
• 2,000,000 casualties for Communists
along with as many as 3,000,000
civilians injured or killed
• Relations with China worsen, Armed
forces racially integrated
Long-Term Effects
• Military spending increases, Military
commitments increase worldwide, Relations
with Japan improve, Future presidents send
military into combat without Congressional
approval
• Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)
formed as a defensive alliance aimed at
stopping the spread of communism. Pakistan,
Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, New
Zealand, France, Britain and the United States
were the member countries.
Evaluate the actions taken by the leaders of the U.S. Government and Army
in the Korean War. Defend answers with short written explanation (2-3
Sentences).
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•
•
•
•
A: Action was needed to meet goals of U.S. policy
B: Action was positive for U.S. in short term but not in long run
C: Action did not meet U.S. goals but was necessary
D: Action did not meet U.S. goals and was unnecessary
F: What were they thinking?
1. President Truman sends troops to Korea in response to
North invasion of South
2. General Douglas MacArthur attacks north of the 38th
parallel despite Chinese warnings
3. President Truman chooses policy of limited warfare
4. Agreement of cease-fire results in Korea staying divided
north and south