1. The Cold War in Asia

2. Cold War in Asia Containment did not work as well in Asia
Imperialist system in India and Southeast Asia crumbled
Former colonies became new nations
These new nations had different cultural and political traditions, bitter memories of Western colonialism
Resisted U.S. influences
Ironically, the Asian nation that became most closely tied to U.S. defenses was Japan

3. Cold War in Asia
Unlike Germany, Japan was under the sole occupation of the U.S.
May a new constitution was adopted that set up a parliamentary democracy in Japan
Emperor Hirohito remained as a ceremonial head of state
The new constitution renounced war as an instrument of national policy and limited Japan’s military capability
Japan depended on the military protection of the U.S.

4. U.S.-Japanese Security Treaties
Two treaties signed in 1951 did the following:
Japan surrendered its claims to Korea and islands in the Pacific
U.S. ended formal occupation of Japan
U.S. troops remained in military bases in Japan for that country’s protection against outside enemies (Communism)
Japan became a strong ally and prospered under American protection
U.S. continued to strengthen its presence in the Pacific when the Philippines became an independent republic on July 4, 1946
U.S. retained important naval and air bases there

5. Civil War in China
After WWII, a civil war resumed in China that dated back to the 1930s
Fought between Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists and Chinese Communists led by Mao Zedong
Nationalists were losing support because of runaway inflation and government corruption
Well-organized Communists successfully appealed to the poor and homeless

6. U.S. Policy in China U.S. attempts to negotiate a peace failed
1947- Chiang’s armies were in retreat
Ruling out an invasion to save Chiang and the Nationalists, Congress voted to give the Nationalists government $400 million in aid
80% of this aid ended up in the hands of the Communists because of corruption and collapse of the Nationalist armies

7. Two Chinas
By the end of 1949, all of mainland China was controlled by the Communists
Chiang and the Nationalists had retreated to the island of Taiwan, where Chiang still claimed to be the legitimate leader of China
The U.S. continued to support Chiang and refused to recognize Mao Zedong’s regime (People’s Republic of China) for over 30 years

8. Reaction to China
Democrats were blamed for “the loss of China” to the Communists
1950: Mao Zedong and Stalin signed the Sino-Soviet pact
Seemed to provide further proof of a worldwide Communist conspiracy

9. The Korean War
After Japan’s defeat in WWII, its former colony of Korea was divided along the 38th parallel
Soviet armies occupied the north while U.S. forces occupied the south
1949- both armies retreated, leaving the North in the hands of Communist leader Kim Il Sung
South was left under the leadership of conservative nationalist Syngman Rhee

10. The Korean War
June 25, North Korean army suddenly and unexpectedly invaded South Korea
Truman called for a special session of the U.N. Security Council which authorized a U.N. force to defend South Korea
Most of the U.N. forces sent to help were made up of American soldiers, led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur
Congress avoided a declaration of war by accepting Truman’s explanation of the U.N. intervention as “police action”

11. The Korean War
North Korea successfully pushed the South Korean and U.N. forces to the southern tip of the peninsula
Gen. MacArthur reversed the war by a brilliant, amphibious surprise assault at Inchon behind North Korean lines
After Inchon, U.N. forces surrounded and defeated much of North Korea’s army, and pushed them all the way back to the Chinese border

12. The Korean War China warned it would resist threats to its security
U.N. and American forces were too close to their border
November masses of Chinese troops cross the border to help North Korea
U.N. forces were overwhelmed in one of the worst defeats in U.S. military history
Driven out of North Korea

13. Truman vs. MacArthur
MacArthur was able to stabilize fighting near the 38th parallel
Called for expanding the war, and bombing and invading China
Truman cautioned MacArthur about making public statements and criticisms of U.S. policies
MacArthur continued to speak out anyway
April MacArthur was fired for insubordination
MacArthur returned home a hero, and many Americans agreed with his sentiment that “there is no substitute for victory”
Critics attacked Truman and the Democrats for not being harder on the Communists

14. Armistice The fighting stalemated around the 38th parallel
Peace talks began in July 1951 but dragged on for two years
An armistice wasn’t signed until during Eisenhower’s first year in office
More than 2.5 million died in the Korean conflict, including 54,000 Americans

15. Political Consequences of the Korean War
Technically, Truman’s containment policies in Korea worked:
Stopped Communist aggression
Did not allow the conflict to escalate into a world war
Truman administration used this to justify expanding the military, funding a new jet bomber, and stationing more U.S. troops overseas
Republicans were far from satisfied:
Stalemate in Korea and Communist takeover of China led many to believe Truman and Democrats were too “soft on Communism”

16. How did the new Japanese constitution affect our relationship with Japan?
What happened in China after WWII?
Who led the Chinese Communists?
Why were the Nationalists losing support in China?
What happened to the American aid sent to help out the Nationalists in China?
What happened to China by the end of 1949?
After Japan’s defeat in WWII, what two countries temporarily occupied Korea? What happened after these two armies retreated?
Give a brief timeline of events that occurred during the Korean War
Despite his military success in Korea, why was Gen. MacArthur fired by President Truman?
What are the contrasting views of U.S. intervention in Korea? ?