1. 5.7 – The Korean War and Escalating Cold War

2. Democratic-Republican Shift
July 28, 1948 – Truman issued Executive Order 9981  desegregated military
Election of 1948
Democrat – Truman
Republican – Dewey
States’ Rights Democrat (“Dixiecrat”) – Thurmond
Truman won, narrowly, but with the help much of the African American and minority vote

3. China: Nationalists vs. Communists
Chiang Kai-shek – Nationalist (almost totalitarian) leader of China
Favored in southern and eastern China
Supported by US
$3B in US aid
Some American officials viewed Chiang as inefficient and corrupt
Mao Zedong – head of Communist Party and Red Army
Favored in northern china
Relied on USSR aid
Attracted peasants through promising land reform, literacy education, and more food production
By 1945, much of northern China under communist control

4. Civil War in China
After WWII (Japan no longer a threat), Nationalists and Communists no longer cooperate
, US supported Nationalists ($, not troops)
May 1949 – Chiang and supporters fled to Taiwan
“Formosa” to Westerners
Communists established People’s Republic of China (PRD)  US refused to recognize gov’t

5. America’s Response to PRC
Containment failed! China became Communist!
Truman attacked for not doing more to support Chinese Nationalists  State Dep’t said Communism in China resulted from internal forces, not external influence
Some Conservatives in Congress didn’t accept that excuse… believed the American gov’t was riddled with Communist agents  panic concerning Communism rising in America

6. Korea 1910 – Japan annexed Korea August 1945
Japanese north of 38th parallel surrendered to USSR
Japanese south of the 38th parallel surrendered to US
Post-war Korea was divided in half along the 38th parallel (like Germany)

7. Korea North of 38th Parallel South of 38th Parallel Soviet control
Communist
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)
Kim Il Sung
Capital - Pyongyang
American control
Democratic
Republic of Korea (South Korea)
Syngman Rhee
Capital - Seoul
June 1949 – only 500 American troops in South Korea
Soviets believed US would not fight to defend South Korea
Soviets backed North Korea with tanks, airplanes, and money to take over entire peninsula

8. The Korean War June 25, 1950 – NK launched surprise attack on SK
Korean War , conflict between NK and SK, US and UN nations supported SK, China supported NK
South Korea petitioned the UN for help  vote passed to help SK
USSR not present due to their UN boycott – angry due to UN acknowledgment of Chinese Nationalists in Taiwan
Soviets could not veto UN’s resolution

9. The Korean War June 27, 1950 US troops in Japan reported to SK
16 nations (including US) sent 520,000 troops + 590,000 SK troops
SK All troops under command of General Douglas MacArthur (WWII hero)

10. MacArthur’s Counterattack
At first, NK forces controlled most of the peninsula
Sept. 15, 1950 – MacArthur launched surprise amphibious attack on Inchon while troops approached from Pusan  trapped NK forces, surrendered and retreated past to 38th parallel line
Nov – UN troops reached the Yalu River  Korea might be whole again…
Yalu River
Inchon
Pusan
Wikipedia GIF on Korean War

11. Chinese Fight Back Nov. 1950 – Chinese troops joined NK
Did not want US troops near the border, NK as a buffer between SK and Communist China
Korean War = China vs. US
Chinese pushed US troops south, away from the NK-China border  progress further south and capture Seoul in Jan. 1951
Stalemate – no substantial advances

12. MacArthur Recommends Attacking China
To end stalemate, MacArthur called for nuclear weapon use on China
Truman disagreed  China aligned with Soviet Union, bombing China = World War III
War with China would be “the wrong war, at the wrong place, at the wrong time, and with the wrong enemy.” – General Omar Bradley
SK and US forces begin attempt to advance on NK troops  April 1951 – Seoul retaken and NK at 38th parallel…. SQUARE ONE!

13. MacArthur vs. Truman McArthur – WAR WITH CHINA!
Spoke with newspaper and magazine publishers… even Republican leaders
Truman – ABSOLUTELY NOT!
Despite warnings from superiors, McArthur continued to undermine and criticize Truman  April 11, 1951 – Truman fired MacArthur
Initially, most Americans shocked, supported MacArthur (WWII hero!)
After a while, public opinion swayed and Americans realized Truman’s case for limiting the war was a logical and smart move.

14. Truce
Long, bloody stalemate  June 23, 1951 – USSR suggested a cease-fire, truce talks followed
Location of the cease-fire line to be at the existing battle line
Establishment of a demilitarized zone (area without military activities) between NK and SK
Agreement did not fully please Truman
Korea still two separate nations (US = )
Communism contained without using atomic weapons (US = )

15. Post-Korean War Korean War Impact Election of 1952
54,000 US lives lost
$67B
Increased fear of domestic communist aggression and influence
High cost and low reward result of Korean War turned many Americans away from the Democratic Party
Election of 1952
Democrat – Adlai Stevenson
Republican – Dwight D. Eisenhower (WWII hero)
34th POTUS - Eisenhower

16. Dwight D. Eisenhower 34th POTUS - 1952-1960
Moderate Republican (Americans tired of Democrats, in office since 1933)
WWII hero (General, led Operation Torch, Operation Overlord)
“I like Ike!” campaign slogan
Raised minimum wage, compromised on civil rights, extended social security, increased funding for public housing, created a national interstate highway system