1. Unit 6: The Cold War
AH.HI.G26 Notes

2. Content Statement 26
The Cold War and conflicts in Korea and Vietnam influenced domestic and international politics.

3. 38th Parallel
Following World War II the U.S. and the Soviet Union divided the Japanese controlled area of Korea at the 38th Parallel
North Korea would be communist
South Korea would be democratic

10. Korean War (1950-1953) North Korea invades South Korea in 1950
Truman’s original objectives were to contain communism and push the North Koreans back past the 38th parallel
Stages of War:
1st Stage - N. Korea pushes S. Korea to southern tip of country
2nd Stage – General Douglas MacArthur invades North Korea despite warnings from China
3rd Stage – China enters war forcing the U.S. to make a decision (declare war on China? MacArthur supports it but Truman does not)
4th Stage - Stalemate

14. Bay of Pigs (1961)
Fidel Castro led a successful communist revolution in Cuba during the 1950s
The Bay of Pigs was sponsored by the CIA training Cuban exiles to start a revolution to overthrow Castro
1,400 Cuban exiles were captured or killed in an unsuccessful attempt leaving the U.S. looking foolish

18. Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
The Soviet Union moved missiles in Cuba just 90 miles from the U.S.
Missiles were found by U.S. spy planes
The U.S. blockades Cuba in an effort to remove the missiles
Closest conflict to a full scale war between the U.S. and Soviet Union

22. Space Race ( )
The Soviet Union launched Sputnik the first satellite in space in 1957
As a result the U.S. launched the New Frontier and spent more money on science education
The Soviets sent the first man so space while the United States was the first to orbit the earth (John Glenn)
Space race ended in 1969 when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.

26. Vietnam Geography - hilly, thick forest, jungle, and deltas.
Controlled by Japan prior to World War II
Split following World War II (North – communist, South – democratic)

30. The Enemy
NVA – North Vietnamese Army/Vietcong – Communist supporters living in South Vietnam
Original objective of U.S. military was to train South Vietnamese army in case of attack
Difficult to distinguish civilians from Vietcong

38. Ho Chi Minh Trail
a vast network of jungle trails connecting North and South Vietnam
VC used tunnel networks to hide and transport supplies
guerilla warfare – could attack and flee unseen

43. War of Attrition hoped to outlast the enemy
Conducted “Search and Destroy” Missions
civilians suffered greatly during these S and D missions

47. Tet Offensive
Vietnamese New Year (ceasefire) attacks in over 100 cities
VC lost the offensive, but moral for US and S. Vietnam was weakened

49. Anti-War Movement organized marches in Wash. DC
protested napalm and agent orange
burnt draft cards

53. Hawks vs. Doves Hawks – supported U.S. involvement in Vietnam War
Supported containment
Criticized Johnson’s limited war
Doves – Vietnam was not our business
It was a civil war
Said Johnson was sacrificing lives for an undeclared war

56. End of War Vietnamization – build up of South Vietnamese Army
Made South Vietnamese do more fighting to withdraw U.S. troops
Reduce the deaths of American troops