Source:Reading&QuestionsadaptedfromGeorgeLee.DecisionstheShapedAmerica1865– 1976/MarkTwainMedia,1993
andGeorgeLee.WorldWarII/MarkTwainMedia,1995
Cold War Becomes Hot in Korea
While most American attention focused on Europe,
there was also concern over communist advances in
Asia. The U.S. backed the Chinese Nationalists led by
Chiang Kai-Shek, who was trying to fight off Mao
Zedong’s Communists. Because the outcome would
seriously affect the Cold War, President Truman sent
General Marshall to China to work out a truce and
persuade both sides to set up a coalition government.
His efforts failed because hard-liners on both sides,
Mao’s belief that he would win, and the corruption
and unpopularity of Chiang. In 1949 Chiang and his
followers fled to Taiwan. Many nations, including
Great Britain and the Soviet Union, recognized the
communist government set up in Peking. The United
States refused.
Chiang’s loss presented a difficult international
problem. Who would represent China on the Security Council in the United Nations? The
U.S. insisted the Nationalist government in Taiwan was still the legitimate representative of
the Chinese people and used its power to prevent a switch in representation at that time.
Korea presented another unusual problem. When the Japanese took control of Korea
they tried to destroy the Korean culture. They would not even allow people to speak
Korean or use their Korean names. During WWII, the Allies had promised that Korea would
be free after the Japanese were finally defeated.
Japan surrendered to the Allies in 1945, America let troops from the Soviet Union
occupy the northern part of Korea because the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin had stated
publicly that Korea had the right to be free and have its own government. Stalin’s troops
marched into the northern part of Korea and then set up a communist-controlled
provisional government. The U.S. occupied the southern part of the Korean peninsula. A
temporary dividing line between the north and the south was drawn at the 38th parallel of
north latitude.
The United Nations wanted to supervise free elections in the north, but Soviet guards
would not permit UN observers to cross the 38th parallel. Only members of the Communist
Party were allowed to vote. Kim II Sung became the Democratic People’s Republic of
Korea in the north. Before the Soviet troops left, they trained the North Korean Army and
supplied it with guns, artillery, and heavy tanks.
Free elections were held in the south in 1948, and Syngman Rhee was named president
of the Republic of Korea. The U.S. forces left South Korea, with the exception of 500
military advisors. The South Korean Army had little equipment and was not ready for war.
On June 25, 1950, North Korean troops attacked South Korea without warning and soon
gained control of Seoul. Some historians believe the North invaded because the U.S. had
left Korea, allowing King II Sung and opportunity to reunify the nation under his leadership.
After the invasion Harry Truman made some quick decisions regarding the conflict.
Without consulting Congress, he committed American air, navel, and land forces to
support South Korea.
The U.N. Security Council (minus the Soviet
Union who boycotted the meeting) condemned
the attack, and General Douglas MacArthur
was appointed to lead the U.N. forces in
Korea. A few nations, notably Turkey, sent
troops to help in the war, but it was basically
an American effort.
MacArthur was able to stabilize the line
around the “Pusan Beachhead,” and stage a
dramatic landing on the west coast of Korea at
Inchon. Many North Korean troops quickly
surrendered, and the war quickly moved north
of the 38th parallel. Britain and France feared
the U.S. was overcommitted in Asia now, and
they worried that the Soviet Union might use
this as an opportunity to threaten Western
Europe. They also warned that since the front
had now moved so far north, Communist China
might enter the war. Truman discussed that possibility with MacArthur on Wake Island,
and was assured that China would not get involved. MacArthur was wrong, and in
November 1950, Chinese troops crossed the border into North Korea, and the war was
suddenly much larger.
MacArthur was never one to be silent and verbalized to the press that he could win the
war if he was allowed to bomb China and bring in Chinese Nationalist Troops from Taiwan.
Wanting to avoid further escalation of the conflict (with the possible entrance of the
Soviets) Truman’s ordered MacArthur to cease in his public protests. When he did not,
MacArthur was dismissed by Truman in April 1951. Truman’s popularity crashed to new
lows, but in Congressional hearings Chairman of the Joint Chief’s of Staff, General Omar
Bradley, defended Truman’s decision.
After three years of furious fighting, it became apparent that neither side would win a
total victory on the battlefield. Truce talks began in July 1951, at Panmunjorn, but
progress was slow. It was not until Dwight D. Eisenhower became president that the
Chinese and Koreans stopped stalling and the war ended. Many discussions were held
before a demarcation line, known as the Demilitarized Zone (a agreed upon zone in which
opposing groups are forbidden from placing any military personnel or equipment) was
established between between the two sections of Korea at the 38th parallel. An armistice
was signed between the North Koreans and the UN was signed July 27, 1953. To this day,
North Korea and South Korea may not establish themselves within this two-and-one-half
mile wide zone that stretches across the peninsula. The Korean War stopped the spread
of communism, but it cost about 30,000 American lives and the Democrats lost much of
their popularity.
Name _________________________
Challenges
1. Why did President Truman send General Marshall to China?
Because the outcome would seriously affect the Cold War, Truman sent him their to work out a truce and
persuade both sides to set up a coalition government.
2. What does it mean by a “coalition government?” (You may need to look it up)
A government in which political parties or factions would work together - no one is dominant and in complete
control.
3. Why were Marshall’s efforts a failure?
Hard-liners on both sides, Mao’s belief that he would win, and the corruption and unpopularity of Chiang.
4. Which side won the Chinese Civil War, and where did the losers go?
The communists won.
The nationalists went to Taiwan.
5. What argument did the U.S. use to support the Chinese Nationalist representation on the Security
Council? The U.S. insisted that the nationalist government was still the legitimate representative of the
Chinese people.
6. During World War II, why had the Allies promised to give Korea its freedom after the Japanese were
defeated? The Japanese had tried to destroy the Korean culture during the war.
7. Why were the Soviets allowed to occupy the northern part of Korea in 1945?
Stalin had stated publicly that Korea had the right to be free and have its own government.
8. What did Stalin do in the Soviet controlled region of Korea?
Soviet troops marched in and Stalin set up a communist controlled provincial government.
9. What was the temporary boundary established in 1945 between northern and southern Korea?
The 38th parallel
10. Why was Kim II Sung elected premier of North Korea?
Only communists were allowed to vote in the election.
11. What did Soviet troops do before they left North Korea?
They trained the North Korean Army and supplied them with guns, artillery, and heavy tanks.
12. Who was elected president of South Korea in 1948?
Syngman Rhee
13. Why do many believe North Korea invaded South Korea?
The United States left Korea and only left 500 military advisors.
14. Why was South Korea not prepared for the attack?
They did not have enough equipment and were not prepared for the surprise attack.
15. What was Harry Truman’s controversial reaction to the invasion of South Korea?
Without consulting Congress, he committed American air, naval, and land forces to South Korea.
16. Explain what happened at Inchon? (2 points)
General MacArthur staged a dramatic landing behind the lines at Inchon causing many North Korean troops
to surrender, and then he went on the offensive and pushed the war north of the 38 parallel.
17. What did MacArthur tell Truman at the Wake Island conference?
He assured the president that China would not get involved in the conflict.
18. What complaints did MacArthur make about Truman’s policies?
He claimed that he could win the war if Truman allowed him to bomb China and bring in Chinese Nationalist
troops from Taiwan.
19. What is the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that was established when the armistice was signed in 1953?
It
was a demarcation line made at the 38 parallel. It was a two-and-one-half mile wide area extending across
Korea that neither side could place military or maintain control.
20. Who is the current leader of North Korea? (He is the grandson of Kim II Sung)
Kim Jung Un