Communism in Asia Identify and show on a map two “hot spots” in Asia where Communism was threatening to spread in the late 40’s/early fifties and explain the American response to those two “Hot Spots” Evaluate if the US was correct in getting involved in the Korean War

Communism in Asia China Communists take over (Not a surprise to US, US sent aid and weapons to nationalists lead by Jiang Kai Shek but he was corrupt) – Mao Zedong- Communist leader of China *Not under Soviet control Evaluate if China is a threat to the US? Should the US have done more to prevent China from becoming Communist?

United Nations Founded after WWII to protect the sovereignty (independence) of countries and human rights Made up member nations from around the world who each have a voice (General Assembly) Security Council- 13 members, SC has the power to send troops from member countries to enforce UN decisions – 5 permanent members- US, Great Britain, France, Russia, China (each member has veto power meaning one of the permanent members can stop any UN action with their vote) Analyze some problems that will make the UN ineffective in carrying out it’s goals

Korea- after WWII country split into 2 countries North Korea- Communist South Korea- under a US supported dictator Korean War- ( ) N. Korea invades S. Korea June of 1950 – United Nations “Police Action” sends troops to defend S. Korea *US military makes up 50% of UN troops, 90% of airplanes *N. Korea controls nearly all of S. Korea by Sept. – Evaluate if the US should get involved in a war halfway around the world? (Think about what you know about Korea today, North and South, and what would have happened to S. Koreans if the US had not intervened. Of course think of the US in Afghanistan and Iraq and the result of US intervention)

US enters the War (and China) Inchon- US troops land behind enemy lines, liberate S. Korea, and invade N. Korea to the border of China by Nov. – US believes they will win the war by Christmas *China does not like US troops near it’s border China invades N. Korea- 400,000 Chinese troops attack US/UN troops – Battle of Chosan- 20,000 US casualties fighting against Chinese and N. Korean troops *one of US worst defeats ever, US now losing the war – Evaluate some of the options the US could choose now that they are losing?

General MacArthur- In charge of US troops MacArthur threatens to use nuclear bombs on N. Korea and China – *Tells the Chinese to surrender or else!! (without the President’s approval) – Pres. Truman- the President is the only person who can launch nuclear bombs *Truman fires MacArthur for going too far – Did the President make the right decision in firing the greatest general in US history and a hero of WWII? How do you think Americans will react?

Korean Stalemate- war goes on for two more years with lots of fighting, casualties but little change in land gained *Armistice- war ends in 1953 (50,000 US dead, 1 mil.+ Chinese and Koreans) *importance- N. Korea believes it is still at war with S. Korea and US today N. Korea has the nuclear bomb and 1 mil. Troops in it’s army US has 38,000 troops in S. Korea *if war happened today millions would die in Korea, Japan might be nuked, and Cal. might also be nuked – Evaluate who won the war? Was it worth US involvement?