Transcript The Cold War: The Korean and Vietnam Wars

The Cold War: The Korean and
Vietnam Wars
Background
• Containment: the American policy of
preventing the spread of Communism led to
American involvement in several overseas
affairs. These fights were against communism,
but never technically against the Soviet Union
The Korean War
• After World War II: Korea
is divided into Communist
North and a Democratic
South at the 38th parallel.
• 1950: North Korea, with
the aid of the Soviet
Union, invaded South
Korea, pushing the South
Koreans to the Southeast
part of the nation.
• November 1950:
American and South
Korean troops push back
and force the fighting
almost to border between
Korea and China.
– The Chinese felt
threatened, and entered
the fight on the side of the
Communist North.
• 1951: War rages back and
forth over the country.
– Douglas MacArthur,
Commander of the
American forces, calls for
nuclear war and is refused.
• 1953: Cease-fire
agreement signed
between North Korea
and the allied
American/South Korean
forces.
– It established a new
border between the
Koreas at the 38th
parallel.
• Today: Korea remains
divided between a
communist North Korea
and a democratic South
Korea.
Vietnam
• Before World War II: Vietnam is
owned by France for its
resources and trade purposes.
• After World War II: France
regains control of Vietnam, but
the people of Vietnam wanted
to rule their own nation
– A war was fought between Ho
Chi Minh (leader of the
Vietnamese Communist party),
his followers, and France.
– In 1954, a peace treaty is signed
dividing Vietnam at the 17th
parallel.
– The north is Communist, run by
Ho Chi Minh, and the south
belongs to the French and their
supporters.
• Tensions Increase: the South Vietnamese
nationalist leader, Ngo Dinh Diem, although
supported by the United States, is very unpopular
with the people.
– His government is overthrown and he is assassinated.
– The people of Vietnam want a unified country under Ho
Chi Minh. The Americans are afraid of the domino
theory, and so begin to fight to keep Vietnam from
communism.
• Domino theory: the theory that if one country falls to
communism, the rest will soon fall.
• Comes from the policy of containment.
Containment
Domino
Theory
• The War: The Vietnam War rages for many years.
– Fought between the Vietcong (the Communist
guerrilla army) and the North Vietnamese army vs.
the army of the United States.
• The United States is at a disadvantage because they are not
used to fighting a group that uses hit and run tactics.
– By 1965, due to heavy casualties and few victories, the
war is losing support in the United States.
– By 1975, all the Americans are removed from the
country and Vietnam is now owned by the people
again.
Tunnels
Bouncing Betty
Punji Spikes
Punji Pit
Trip Wire
• Vietnam Today: A unified communist country
that trades frequently with the United States.
To Do
• On a blank piece of paper, create a Venn Diagram
comparing and contrasting the Vietnam War
– Things to consider:
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what was the country like before the war
what was the country like after the war
American involvement
role of guerilla warfare
the division of the nation
the role of the American policy of containment
the location of the war