1. The Korean War Objective: Explain how the Korean War began and trace the course through the cease-fire;

2. Conflict in Korea ► Following WWII the US and Soviet Union both took control of Korea (a former Japanese colony) ► Korea was divided at the 38 th parallel into North and South Korea ► June 25, 1950 – North Korea invaded and took control of most of the south hoping to unite the country

3. United States Responds ► President Truman thought Soviets backed the attack and takes action but does not declare war ► Truman sends American forces to Korea and asks U.N.to take action ► U.N. told North Korea to remove its army; it did not ► U.N. agreed to send soldiers; most under the command of General MacArthur

4. ► Troops took port city of Inch’on then moved to the capital city of South Korea – Seoul ► Pushing from there, they moved the North Koreans back across the 38 th parallel

5. MacArthur Presses the Attack ► MacArthur requests an invasion into North Korea; Truman receives approval from the U.N. ► China sees advancing troops as a threat and hundreds of thousands of soldiers to fight ► Chinese soldiers push U.N. forces back into South Korea ► Jan., 1951 – Communists captured Seoul; control would change several times

6. American Leadership Splits ► 1951 – U.N. forces push North Korea back again ► War becomes a stalemate ► Stalemate – neither side gains much ground; lasted for almost 2 years ► MacArthur wants to use atomic bombs in China to destroy supply lines and bases; Truman fears this would lead to a larger war

7. ► MacArthur criticizes Truman; sends letter to Congress stating he was being stopped from doing his job ► April, 1951 – Truman removed MacArthur for disobedience ► Public protested decision

9. The Fighting Ends ► July, 1951 – talks begin to end the war ► July, 1953 – cease-fire agreement was reached ► Demilitarized Zone set up between North and South Korea – no military forces allowed; stretched along border near the 38 th parallel ► No clear winner; hardly any territory had changed hands

10. ► More than 36,000 Americans killed; 103,000 wounded ► 2 million Koreans and Chinese killed

11. Summary and Activity ► How did the dividing of Korea lead to conflict? ► Why did Truman seek U.N. approval? ► Why did President Truman fire General MacArthur? Activity Suggestions: Illustrate the division of North and South Korea; create a poster announcing the end of the conflict