Korean War and Vietnam Conflict Cold War Conflicts Korean War and Vietnam Conflict

Why did we fight these wars? Containment- stop the spread of communism Domino Theory- if one country fell to communism, the neighboring countries would fall to communism as well. Korean- North Korea and China(communist) vs. U.S. and South Korea (democracy) Vietnam- North Vietnam (communist) vs. U.S. and South Vietnam (democracy)

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Korean War Background During WWII, Japan controlled the Korean Peninsula After WWII, U.S.S.R. controlled Korea north of 38th parallel and U.S. controlled Korea south of 38th parallel

Korean War “The Forgotten War” (1950-1953) Started in June 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea U.S. appealed to the United Nations 16 nations came to help South Korea

Korean War North Korean advanced all the way to Pusan. Americans pushed the North Koreans back north to the Yalu River China comes to the defense of North Korea Fighting was at a deadlock Ceasefire in July 1953

Results of Korean War Korea divided at 38th parallel (North and South Korea) U.S. casualties: 178,000 KIA 566,000 wounded North Korea/China: 367,000-750,000 KIA 686,000-789,000 wounded Civilians: 2.5 million killed/wounded https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X7nbwFxGRU

Leaders in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh (North Vietnam) Ngo Dinh Diem (South Vietnam) Agreed to unify Vietnam in 1956 Diem refused to hold elections because Ho Chi Minh would win (U.S. backed his decision)

Start of Vietnam conflict Communist rebel group opposed Diem (Viet Cong) Gulf of Tonkin Incident U.S. war ships reported taking fire from the North Vietnamese. President Johnson uses this incident to send more American troops By 1968, 536,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam

Tet Offensive January 30 and 31st, 1968 Surprise attack on more than 100 cities throughout Vietnam on their lunar New Year. Turning point of the war (losing battle for the U.S.) http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/tet-offensive

End of the conflict Conflict was very unpopular in the U.S. Jan. 1973 the U.S. agreed to withdraw all of its troops April 30, 1975 North Vietnamese captured Saigon (war was over)

Vietnam War Casualties U.S.- 58,000 KIA 300,000 wounded South Vietnamese- 200,000-400,000 KIA North Vietnamese- 500,000-1 million http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history