1. The Korean War

2. Background of The War

3. 1910 - 1945  Korea used to have some of Asia's most prominent communist groups and activists. These organizations worked underground to reestablish Korea's independence.  During the 1940’s, political tensions were building in Korea.  Americans didn’t want another war - Isolationists  Began to downsize the military  Budget cut from $82 billion in 1945 to $13 billion  Total forces cut from 12 million men and women in 1945 to 1.6 million  US has adopted a policy of containment.

4. Occupation  In 1945 the Allies had divided Korea into two zones. Korea was occupied by Soviet forces in the north and American forces in the south.  The line that was chosen to separate the two was the same one that Japan and Russia used in the early part of the 20th century.  It was called the 38th parallel.

5. Divided Korea  33-year-old, soviet army captain, Kim II Sung became known to be a heroic guerrilla commander. In early 1946, Soviet occupying forces chose him to head the provisional government for North Korea.  South Korea was led by Syngman Rhee and called itself the Republic of Korea Kim Il Sung http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Il-sung Syngman Rhee http://en.wikipedia.org/wik i/Syngman_Rhee

6. On the Brink of War  South Korea obviously appeared to be faltering, but President Syngman Rhee (South Korea) unleashed a brutal campaign against suspected communists and leftists.  At first Kim wanted to use force, however he needed support and so he turned to Stalin for help. Stalin supported his invasion plan, and advised him to get support from China’s new communist leader, Mao Zedong. He did and was now on the brink of war.

7. Causes of the Korean War

8.  Underlying cause: It was just another episode in the ongoing Cold War between the US and the USSR  The US went to war in Korea for three reasons: - The Domino Theory - To try to undermine Communism - Competition with the USSR for world domination - To expand Communism - To prevent the Chinese leader from establishing relations with the US - As an act of self-defense

9. Leading Causes of the Korean War  Reputation  Truman wanted to display the power and wealth of America internationally.  The USSR wanted better results and a chance to prove themselves after the Berlin Blockade. This was particularly important to Stalin.  They felt that the Korean war was their way of proving their reputation.

10. Leading Causes of the Korean War  Support  The USA wanted to support Syngman Rhee because he was a democrat surrounded by communism  USA: supported South Korea.  The USSR wanted to support the communist nation, because of the same political ideals.  USSR: supported North Korea.  They could not get involved in a war against communism without directly fighting the USSR.

11. Leading Causes of the Korean War  Cold War  Stalin encouraged the spread of communism as long as it did not result in a war with America. He soon realized that nuclear war might be a possibility and wanted to avoid that and beat the USA using more indirect means.  The Domino Effect - Truman believed that if Korea fell to communism, Japan (a major trading partner) would follow.  The Truman Doctrine stated that the USA would lend aid to any country not wishing to be suppressed by the political ideals (communism) of any other country.  April 1950 the American National Security Council issued a report recommending direct involvement (a proxy war) against communism.  Stalin saw that the Korean War Was a chance for a war by proxy. Kim II Sung visited Stalin to persuade him that he could conquer South Korea.

12. This map is from an American magazine from 1950. This shows how much the US feared communism in the far east.

13. U.S. Involvement  South Korea was unstable economically  The United States feared that South Korea would fall to communism  U.S. government helped to build up the South Korean military  Both the U.S. and the Soviets removed their troops from Korea in 1949.

14. Fighting Begins  There was constant small-scale fighting at the 38 th Parallel  No one thought that the war was actually beginning when it did.  North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950.  The UN became involved and asked for an immediate cease fire  The Soviets were boycotting the U.N. due to the denial of admittance of China to the world governing body instead of Taiwan.

17. Support for South Korea  June 27 th -The U.N. Security Council labeled North Korea as an aggressor and offered support to South Korea  The U.S. sponsored this resolution  U.S. forces entered South Korea under the direction General MacArthur  15 other countries gave military and monetary support, however no other country gave the same support that the United States did. 15 other countries

19. Split Power  By September the North Koreans had pushed the U.S. and South Korean forces into a retreat  September 15, 1950, General MacArthur led a counterattack and recaptured Seoul, which is South Korea’s capital  The assault on Inch'on encountered light resistance and UN forces steadily pushed inland.

21. Truman and MacArthur

22. Chinese Involvement  Chairman Mao Tse Tung is watching American forces closely. He has 500,000 troops waiting in Manchuria for the arrival of American Forces  China aided North Korea in late November  Due to China’s involvement, General MacArthur called for a major expansion of the war. His proposal included:  Blockading China’s coast  Invading the interior of China  As the NKPA is pushed back across the 38 th parallel, Washington gives MacArthur permission to cross the parallel  Stop at any sign of Russian or Chinese intervention  DO NOT cross or even fire in the direction of the Yalu River

23. Cont. American Troops begin to feel that the war is almost over

24. Conflict Regarding the Plan  Supporters of MacArthur’s plan said it would overthrow the Communist regime in China  Opponents argued that blockading China could entice the Soviets to become involved

25. Truman’s Response  President Truman opposed MacArthur’s plan  Truman removed MacArthur from his position in April 1951  The war had reached a stalemate by the summer of 1951.  The war became a hot button issue in election of 1952

26. Final Outcome

27. Election of 1952  Republican candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower  Democrat candidate Adlai Stevenson  Eisenhower promised to end the Korean war yet still resist the spread of Communism  Eisenhower won the election President Eisenhower

28. The War Ends  Eisenhower stayed true to his word to end the war  July 27 th, 1953 an armistice was agreed upon.  The outcome of the war was the same dividing line that was present before the start of the war, approximately around the 38 th parallel

29. The Korean War Armistice

30.  Designed to insure an end to warfare and all acts of armed force in Korea until a definitive peaceful state could be achieved.  Signed on July 27, 1953 by North Korea, China, and the UN but not by South Korea.  Covered issues such as - exchange of prisoners of war - location of a demarcation line

31.  Intended as a temporary measure, thus the Korean War has not officially ended. The 38 th parallel remains standing even today.  Enforced by a Military Armistice Commission - 38th parallel reset as boundary between communist North and anti-communist South. - Cold War tensions continue unabated.  It provided… suspension of open hostilities fixed demarcation line with a four kilometre (2.4 mile) buffer zone - the so-called demilitarization zone A mechanism for the transfer of prisoners of war

32. Map of Korea

34. Approximately 5 million people killed during the war (1950-1953) More than 34,000 Americans killed in action More than 600,000 Chinese killed in action Casualties

35.  Korea is still split up into North Korea (communist) and South Korea (non-communist)  The border between the two countries has remained one of the most heavily-armed stretches of land on Earth

36. Effects of Korean War

40. Big Questions  Did it stop the Domino Effect from happening again?  How did this war effect North and South Korean relations for the future?  Will the 38 th parallel ever be diminished?