WARM UP 01/29
1. Name the alliance made between the
USA and western European, democratic
nations.
2. What was Churchill’s nickname for the
imaginary line dividing democratic west
and communist east Europe?
3. What plan offered economic and military
aid to countries resisting communist
takeover?
The Korean War
1950-1953
China Falls to Communism
 The Soviets helped Communists in China
after 1945.
 In 1949, led by Mao Zedong, the Communists
finally defeated the Nationalists and its
leader Chiang Kai-shek.
US Reacts to Chinas Fall
Containment had failed…seen as a crushing
blow as more than ¼ of the world’s population
now came under Communist control
US now had to look for a new ally in Asia and
Japan was chosen - US gradually lifted
restrictions imposed after WW2
US used its veto power and prevented the
admission of “Red China” into the United
Nations
Chaing Kai-Shek-Nationalist Party
Mao Zedong-Communist Party
Korean War
 Korea, a former Japanese
colony, was divided into 2
zones after WW2
 The Soviets controlled
north of 38th parallel and
put a pro-Soviet
Communist government in
power
 US troops occupied south
of 38th parallel and
supported the existing
anticommunist
government
North Korea Attacks South Korea
 Korean War begins with surprise attack




by N.K. (armed with Soviet weapons) in
an attempt to unify the country under
Communist rule
Stalin felt Americans would not care
enough to become involved in the
conflict
S.K. calls on UN for help/Truman order
troops stationed in Japan to S.K.
UN condemns the action by N. Korea
President Truman sent general Douglas
MacArthur to command the UN forces
Douglass MacArthur
Pair Share Discussion
•
Why do you think America got involved in the
conflict with North Korea and South Korea?
•
Do you agree with Truman’s decision to get
involved? Why/Why not?
1. Containment had failed. US wanted to stop the
spread of communism (especially after the fall
of China to communism). Korea was once a
colony of Japan (US new Ally)
MacArthur’s Counter Attack
 MacArthur lands his forces at
Inchon, in the middle of the
Korean peninsula
 This landing surprised the N.
Koreans and trapped them in S.
Korea (cutting them off from
the supplies)
 - was the 2nd largest seaborne
invasion in history
 Alarmed by the threat of a large
American force on China’s
border brought a large Chinese
army into the war, forcing
MacArthur to retreat
MacArthur’s Plan
• MacArthur wanted to
expand the conflict
• liberate China from
Communist control by
invading China
• blockade China’s ports
• use atomic bombs
against Chinese
industrial cities
MacArthur vs. Truman
• When Truman refused
MacArthur’s ideas, the
General publicly
criticized Truman in
newspapers/media
• Faced with public
criticism from a
commander in the field,
Truman fires MacArthur
from his post
• Truman believed his step
was necessary to reassert
civilian control over the
military but 69% of US
backed MacArthur
Truman sacks MacArthur
Settling for Stalemate
 In 1952,
(9) Dwight D. Eisenhower
(“Ike”) was elected President; pledged
he would end the war if elected
 Final 2 years of the war became a
stalemate, with most of the fighting
taking place near the 38th parallel

(10) a demilitarized zone (DMZ)
between the two sides at the 38th
parallel
 (11) Nothing resolved; 54,000 US lives/
$67 billion
 An armistice was signed between
U.S. and N. Korea in 1953
DMZ Zone Today
TODAY:
• The United States has
maintained Army and Air
Force personnel in South
Korea
• The two countries work
together to combat regional
and global threats and to
strengthen their economies
Did US Stop Trying to Contain
Communism?
• NO. The US continued the policy, fearing
the spread of communism around the
world.
Meet The Presidents of the 1950s
Flip your paper over. List 10 facts for each president as we watch.
Harry Truman
Dwight Eisenhower
Just for Fun
• What if South Korea won the war?
• What if North Korea won the war?