1. The USA foreign policy 1949- 1950, the Korean War, and NSC- 68 Salome, Michael, Maura

2. The following presentation consists of three components: 1. U.S foreign policy in the years 1949- 1950 2. The Korean War 3. NSC- 68 Thorough knowledge of these topics is necessary in understanding them in context of the Cold War and exploring their significance.

3.  American efforts to contain Communism in Europe and prevent further Communist influence in Europe:  -The Truman Doctrine  -NATO was established in April 1949  However, the USSR quickly gained a nuclear threat in September 1949 and it had spread its Communist influence to China. The balance of power was greatly shifted.

4.  Huge anti-Communist attitude throughout America. Joseph R. McCarthy was an extremist who accused the Truman administration and liberals as Communists and spies. This caused a social distress in America.  Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Trial

5.  Result of McCarthyism -> all but two State Department advisors in China lost their jobs –US lost valuable exports on Far East Affairs  The US felt the pressure of a possible Cold War on two fronts: the USSR and China. Truman, however, was not able to recognize the legitimacy of the Chinese government.

6.  58 page formerly classified report issued by the United States Security Council on April 14 1950, and presented to president Truman.  Top secret until the 1970s. It was one of the most significant statements of American policy in the Cold War.  Warned of all communism feeding back to the “nerve center” in Moscow.  Encouraged US military expansion and economic and military aid to be given to any country by the US who was resisting communism.

7.  Cost estimated to be $50 million  Truman reluctant  The outbreak of theKorean War in June 1950 prompted action.  Truman signed NSC-68 into policy on September 1950.

8.  “One of the key documents of the cold war”- LeFeber  Revisionist view: Historians have criticized American interpretation of Soviet aims. They believe it was an excuse for expansionism.  Historian William S. Taubman states- the case may have been overstated to persuade the public to “put their money where their communist mouths were.”

9. Background :  After the end of WWII, Korea, which was then under the annexation of Japan, was split up between the USA and the USSR  It was never their intention to split Korea but simply to divide it in much the same way as they did Germany

10.  As the tensions of the cold war increased between the USA and the USSR they became less willing to co- operate  The South, under the US, pushed for Synghman Rhee to become the leader  The North, under the USSR, pushed for Kim Il Sung  In 1947 the UN agreed to supervise the Korean elections but they were denied access to the North and only supervised an election in the South in 1948

11.  The ROK, Republic of Korea, was formed in the South under Synghman and was recognized by the US and the UN as the official Korean government  In response the DPRK, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was created and was recognized by the USSR  “The Cold War had thus institutionalized a Korean civil war in two hostile states, who both claimed to represent all Koreans”-Callum MacDonald (1987)

12.  90,000 North Korean troops marched south into South Korea on the 25 th of June 1950  The UN passed a resolution for military action against North Korea on June 27  July 1 st US troops landed in South Korea with the original aim of “containing” what they deemed to be the spread of Communism

13. USA : WHAT THEY SAID…REAL REASONS…  Truman’s Democratic party faced difficult elections in 1950 because of McCarthy and his purges  NSC-68/ Domino effect  “If we let Korea down, then the Soviets will keep right on going and swallow up one piece of Asia after another”-Truman

15. ORTHODOX  Stalin planned, initiated and led the attack against the South The Truth:  Soviet archives were opened in 1990 and some light was shed into Soviet participation  Stalin originally was not in agreement with the plan to attack the South but by the start of 1950 gave Kim Il his approval REVISIONIST  Stalin had no role in the invasion and the North was simply responding to attacks from the South  Bruce Cummings wrote in 1981 that Soviet control of the North was clumsy and that the North could have acted without the Soviets military aid

16.  Mao Zedong was originally skeptical as well but because Kim Il gave him the impression that Stalin was more pleased with the plan than he was, he also gave his approval and support  He was planning an attack on Taiwan and didn’t want to Stalin to express reservations about the attack  Once the US started winning they came to fear their own borders so they sent 200,000 troops to help the North

18.  Many were killed and land was destroyed  It would never become whole again  The civil war became a Cold War frontier  The North would remain Communist  The South would become a Capitalist success story

19.  NSC-68’s recommendation to triple the defense budget was accepted  US land forces in Europe were greatly increased  Greece and Turkey were brought into NATO  The integration of West Germany into NATO became top priority  SEATO, South-East Asia Treaty Organization, was formed to help prevent the spread of Communism  They became committed to supporting other regions in Asia that were resisting Communism, which led to involvement in Vietnam and the Philippines

20.  Although not directly involved the US decision to increase military spending and re-arm West Germany caused their conflict with the US to become more intense and wide spread

21.  It was isolated the US and was not allowed on the UN  It became a powerhouse in Asia  However more of their resources were diverted to war effort than to recovery and as a result uniting China and Taiwan became more difficult

22.  Because the US saw all potential Communist threats as something to engage South-East Asia became a front for the Cold War  Nationalist movements in the area became harder to triumph so their reliance on China and the USSR increased

23.  It led to the militarization of the Cold War  The fronts of the Cold War grew to include Asia as well as Europe  Their was a large increase in military spending which boosted economies in both regions  US increased military spending to 10 percent of their GNP  USSR increased their 2.8 million troops to 5.8 million in only five years Effects of the Korean War

24.  Grandma Fitzpatrick (Mauras grandmother)  « The US Foreign Policy 1949-1950, NSC-68, and The Korean War » Rogers, Keely, and Jo Thomas. History. 20th Century World. Causes, Practices and Efects of Wars. London:Pearson, 2010  "Harry Truman Quotes Lesson Plans - USHistorySite.com." Lesson Plans History American Government High School - USHistorySite.com. Web. 12 Dec. 2011..  Kirkwood Community College - Faculty Web Site Index. Web. 12 Dec. 2011..