16.2

 Soviets had been training revolutionaries across the world to spread communism  1949 – China would be their target

Prior to Japanese invasion (1937):  Civil war in China  Between nationalism led by Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jieshi) and communism led by Mao Zedong

 Soviet Union had supported Mao  U.S. sent billions of $$$ to aid the nationalists  Corrupt nationalist leaders pocketed most of $$ Generals were reluctant to fight as well  Ppl were starving + Mao promised them food

 1948 – Mao’s forces dominated the war  Jiang asked U.S. for help BUT  U.S. gov’t officials won’t support the corruption  1949 – Jiang fled China + took control of the Chinese island of Taiwan  ∴ Mao + Communists took over China naming it the People’s Republic of China  Communists now controlled ¼ of world’s land, 1/3 world’s ppl

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 After the war  Korea was divided b/w U.S. and S.U. at the 38 th parallel  North Korea:  Stalin installed a communist gov’t  Provided them w/ lots of military aid  South Korea:  U.S. oversaw the noncommunist South Korea  Didn’t provide nearly as much aid

 American troops stayed in South Korea until June 1949  As soon as U.S. left, North Korea began a huge military buildup  June 25, 1950  NK attacked SK at the 38 th parallel w/ 90,000 troops, Soviet weapons, + tanks  Took over Seoul (capital) + went after the retreating South Korean army

 Truman did not want to repeat past mistakes (appeasement)  ∴ he announced the U.S. would help S. Korea  Then, UN Security Council voted to support S. Korea  If present, Russia would have vetoed this decision BUT was boycotting the Sec. Council  b/c they refused to allow Mao/People’s Republic of China to hold a seat

 However  Truman did not ask Congress for a declaration of war (required by the Constitution)  Compliant w/ the UN resolution, Truman ordered Am. troops in Japan to go to South Korea

 The Problem:  These occupation forces were not equipped w/ the supplies to stop an invasion  American, S. Korean, + other UN forces met in Pusan, South Korea  Did get some fresh supplies from Japan

 MacArthur had plan to drive the N. Koreans out of S. Korea  Surprise attack at Inchon  would not suspect this, bad place to land  Sept 1950 – Attack on Inchon worked, NK army retreated north  By Oct they were driven completely north of the 38 th parallel

 Had to decide:  Should U.S. officials declare their UN mandate as a success and end the war? OR…  Should they push north above the 38 and punish the communists?  MacArthur eager to push forward and convinces Truman to do so.  Truman pushed a resolution thru the UN for a “unified, independent and democratic” Korea

 MacArthur pushes north thru N. Korea up to the Chinese border by Thanksgiving  Nov 25, 1950  MacArthur is faced w/ 300,000 Chinese soldiers  Outnumbered the UN forces fall back

 Truman worried that w/ China in the fight, war could extend thru/out Asia  Could only be won thru a huge commitment and atomic weapons  Truman favored a limited war: fought only to achieve specific means  Truman v MacArthur!

 Until 1953 UN forces and China/N Korea faced a stalemate by the 38 th parallel  Small bloody battles, nothing decisive  Diplomats were working on a peace agreement during this time…

 1952 Election:  The stalemate in Korea was a big issue  Dwight D Eisenhower(R) promised to end the war and was elected  Ike visited Korea to study the scene  Determined only strong (nuclear) action could end the war  issued China a warning  Stalin died 3/5/53  ∴ the communists agreed to a cease-fire Still in effect today = DMZ

 No clear victory in the Korean War  NK = communist to this day  SK = noncommunist, allies w/ the U.S.+ UN  Short Term Effects  37,000 Americans killed, 103,000 wounded  Relations w/ China worsened  Armed forces integrated  Long-Term Effects  Military spending increases  Military commitments increase worldwide  Relations w/Japan improve  Future presidents send military to combat w/o Congressional approval