1. Knowledge Connections
Vocabulary 
Domino Theory
Term
Definition
Knowledge Connections
Picture

2. Essential Question
How were the Korean War and Vietnam War both linked to the policy of containment?

3. What was Korea like after WWII?
After World War II, Korea had been left a divided nation
The Soviet Union controlled the northern part of the country
Korea was divided at the 38th parallel
The United States controlled the southern part of the country

4. How was Korea rebuilt?
The Soviet Union set up a communist government in NORTH KOREA
The United States set up a democratic government in SOUTH KOREA

5. How did the Korean War start?
1950 – North Korea invades South Korea
US President Harry Truman convinces the UNITED NATIONS to send troops (Americans made up most of the troops)

6. How did outside nations respond?
Soviet leader JOSEPH STALIN had supported North Korea’s invasion
American General DOUGLAS MACARTHUR led the UN troops into battle and was able to push the North Korean army back across the 38th parallel
China’s leader MAO ZEDONG saw the UN troops as a threat and sent Chinese troops to push the UN back to South Korea

7. What was MacArthur’s plan?
Gen. MacArthur wanted to use atomic bombs on Chinese military bases…
…but President Truman refused
When MacArthur objected and tried to go around Truman – MacArthur was fired!
Truman did not want to start World War III by dropping bombs on Korea or China

8. Who won the Korean War? Three years of fighting = no clear victory
1953 – An armistice was signed – the fighting was over

9. What were the results of the war?
2.5 million people lost their lives
The boundary between the two Koreas was unchanged
No peace treaty was ever signed

10. What is Korea like today?
North Korea = Communist
South Korea = Democratic
Many see North Korea as a trouble spot to this day for several reasons
It has a totalitarian government (dictatorship)
It has ties with terrorists
It has the knowledge to build nuclear weapons

11. Like Korea, Vietnam was a divided country
What was Vietnam like after WWII?
Like Korea, Vietnam was a divided country
When the Japanese left HO CHI MINH declared Vietnam independent
However, INDOCHINA had once been a French colony and they wanted to regain control

12. What is Indochina? China is to the north
Indochina is made up of the following countries:
Cambodia
Laos
Vietnam
Indonesia is to the south

13. How did war break out?
1946 – the French return to reclaim their colony
Ho Chi Minh led a a group known as the VIETMINH to drive the French out of Vietnam

14. How did the US get involved?
The United States feared that Ho Chi Minh was a Communist…
…if he was successful, he could spread communism all over Asia
If Vietnam falls to the Communists, then other countries will fall too… like a row of dominoes!
President DWIGHT EISENHOWER coined the term DOMINO THEORY in an April 7, 1954 news conference

15. Vietnam divided at the 17th parallel
What did the US do in Vietnam?
The United States tried to help the French reclaim Vietnam
1954 – The French decide to make peace with the Vietminh
GENEVA ACCORDS
Vietnam divided at the 17th parallel
North Vietnam = Communist (led by Ho Chi Minh)
South Vietnam = Democratic (led by a US backed government)

16. Was the war over?
The Geneva Accords also required elections to be held in North and South Vietnam
Fearing a Communist takeover, South Vietnam (backed by the US) refused to participate
The conflict in Vietnam continued…

17. What happened as the war continued?
The United States sent money, weapons, and aid to South Vietnam
The Soviet Union and China poured weapons into North Vietnam
By the 1960s, American troops began arriving in Vietnam
1969 – 500,000 American soldiers in Vietnam

18. US involvement in Vietnam divided the American people
How did people in the US feel about the war?
US involvement in Vietnam divided the American people
1973 – President RICHARD NIXON reaches a settlement to withdraw American forces from Vietnam
Sadly, by this time, more than 58,000 Americans had lost their lives in the war Their names can be found on the VIETNAM MEMORIAL in Washington, DC

19. What was the result of the Vietnam War?
1975 – North Vietnam invades South Vietnam…
…South Vietnam falls
North Vietnamese leaders reunite the country into one Vietnam – a Communist Vietnam
It would take 20 years for the US and Vietnam to renew their relations…
…the two nations reopened to talks and trade in 1995

20. Essential Question
How were the Korean War and Vietnam War both linked to the policy of containment?

21. Vietnam War
Korean War