Cold War in KoreaAIM: How was the Cold War “fought?”
Open notebook quiz:In a paragraph response, evaluate the following statement-
“The Cold War was inevitable. Tensions had always existed between the two countries. Wartime cooperation was bound to disintegrate.”
George F. Kennan’s “Long Telegram”
Why had relations deteriorated between the Soviet Union and the United States?
How does he outline US foreign policy?
Cold War tensions finally erupted in a “hot” war in 1950.
Before the Korean War• After WWII, Japanese-occupied Korea
was divided into northern and southern parts
• 38th parallel: Soviet Union controlled north of this line and the US controlled south of this line
• North Korea: communist government “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” under Kim Il Sung
• South Korea: democratic system “The Republic of Korea” under President Syngman Rhee
The Korean War
2. The United States was not well prepared to fight in Korea; however, the decision to fight was made quickly.
• National Security Council recommends NSC-68
1. Calls for quadrupling of the US defense spending, massive military buildup
Start of the Korean WarNorth Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950.
• Most leaders in the United States were surprised by this attack.
1. American troops stationed in South Korea since WW II had recently completed their withdrawal.
Start of the Korean WarRole of the United States
• South Korea was where the United States had to take a stand against Communist aggression.
• Truman ordered (without Congressional approval) American naval and air forces to support Korean ground troops.
• Truman asked the United Nations to approve the use of force to stop the North Korean invasion.
Start of the Korean WarRole of the United Nations
• The UN Security Council supported the use of force in Korea.
• Truman sent ground troops to Korea.• The troops sent to Korea were to be a United Nations
force (mostly US troops)• Instead of calling this a war, the whole effort was
referred to as a UN police action.
• UN forces made an amphibious landing behind North Korean lines at the port city of Inchon.
• Forces under US General Macarthur- surprise attack worked beautifully and N. Koreans were pushed back past the 38th parallel
But…
Combat
• 260,000 communist Chinese “volunteer” troops joined the North Koreans-UN began to retreat.
• UN forces retreated all the way back to Seoul. It was the longest fallback in U.S. military history.
• MacArthur is fired
• Korea remains divided at the 38th parallel
Combat
Korean Armistice July 1953• US claims “victory!” HOW?!??!?!
• China and N. Korea agree to an armistice and exchange of prisoners
• US troops withdrawn
• Korea remains divided at the 38th parallel
Make “Facebook” status updates detaling the progression of the Cold War from 1945 when the US dropped the atmoic bombs up until the Korean War in 1950.
Answer: Did war in Korea represent a triumph or failure of American foreign policy?
