1.  The previous focus of the Cold War had been with the Soviet Union and fears that their influence would creep West. (Germany, Greece, France, Britain, etc.)  But several factors widened our view…

2.  Mao Zedong v. Chiang Kai-shek since the 1920’s.  The US backed the Nationalists, but they squandered our aid.  In 1949, we stopped our aid, they fled to Taiwan and the Communists had won.  The US used our veto power in the UN keep the People’s Rep. of China out of the UN.  Was this a good idea?

3.  Now that China is Communist, (and has the bomb) Japan becomes very important.  We focus on Japan’s industrial recovery and our ability to station troops their as an outpost in the East.  Why do you think MacArthur was more successful in Japan, than we have been in Iraq?

4.  At the end of WWII, American and Soviet forces enter Korea and it is divided at the 38 th parallel.  The Communists are in the north and the American troops in the south.  In 1950, Soviet aided North Korean invade the south testing our “containment” policy.  We get the UN to back us, so we send in MacArthur with troops

5.  MacArthur made a daring invasion behind enemy lines at Inchon.  Truman allowed MacArthur to pursue the North Koreans beyond the 38 th parallel, but to stop at the border with China.  The Chinese now crossed over the border sending UN forces back across the 38 th parallel.  MacArthur publicly criticized the president’s policy of a limited war.  Truman fired him for insubordination

6.  “The Kremlin is trying, and has been trying for a long time, to drive a wedge between us and the other nations. It wants to see us isolated. It wants to see us distrusted. It wants to see us feared and hated by our allies. Our allies agree with us in the course we are following. They do not believe we should take the initiative to widen the conflict in the Far East. If the US were to widen the conflict, we might well have to go it alone.”  What do you think would have happened if Truman had followed Mac’s advice?  How does Truman’s reasoning line up with Obama’s thinking in the Middle East?

7.  The war settled down, an armistice was signed in 1953.  The US used political pressure and economic aid to contain communism…and a military buildup.  We signed defense agreements with Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines and Australia (SEATO-Southeast Asia Treaty Organization)  The Cold War had now moved to Asia.