 Fell to Communism in 1949  Leader: Mao Zedong  Won by promising to feed the people of China Х Jiang Jieshi – supported by the United States Х US unwilling to committ troops to fight the Communists Х Jiang Government was corrupt and used American financial support for their own benefit. Х Jiang fled to Taiwan

 Post WWII divided at 38 th parallel  North- communists- Soviet Support  South- US Support- smaller amounts of AID  Supposed to have national elections  June 25 th, North invaded south

 Truman and the UN supported South Korea  Sent troops  Truman-Did not get a declaration of war

 Gen MacArthur- strategy- Inchon  by Oct 1950 pushed north Koreans N of 38 th  MacArthur wanted to go into China  MacArthur went N.  China sent 300,000 troops  LIMITED WAR  Truman decided on a Limited War

 War became a political issue  Eisenhower- elected 1952,  Threatened use of nuclear weapons  Stalin died - Cease fire signed June 27 th, 1951

 Question: What to do with the Prisoners of War  Communists Wanted forced return of prisoners  UN/US wanted voluntary  prisoners themselves decide  2 yrs of negotiations- both sides agreed  Each side withdrew 1 ¼ miles from the final battle line.  Demilitarized Zone – DMZ- US troops stayed

 Troops committed without Congressional approval  Military spending goes up