Chapter 23

Section 2

Growing Interest in China

Nationalists Led by Chiang Kai-shek

CommunistsLed by Mao Zedong

People’s Republic of China:• In the 1940’s, China was embroiled in a civil war.

• The U.S. gave the Chiang Kai-shek millions of dollars, but the communists won the war.

Chinese poster saying: "Chairman Mao is the Red sun of our hearts.", 1966

• China became a communist country, and Chiang Kai-shek and his forces fled to Taiwan.

Taiwan students stage an anti-independence protest. Taipei, Taiwan, 2003

Korean War

[1950-1953]

Korean War[1950-1953]

Syngman Rhee

Kim Il-Sung

“Domino Theory”

The Shifting Map of Korea[1950-1953]

Fighting in Korea:

• Korea was divided at the 38th parallel of latitude.

• North Korea was communist and supported by the Soviets, and South Korea was democratic and supported by the U.S.

• In June of 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea.

• The U.N. sent an international force to Korea in order to push the North Koreans out of South Korea.

United Nations forces fighting to recapture Seoul, South Korea, from communist invaders, September 1950.

Luxembourg - 7

Norway (noncombat role)

South Africa - 20

United States – 33,741

New Zealand - 31

Philippines - 92

South Korea – 137,899

Sweden (noncombat role)

Thailand - 136

Turkey - 721

United Kingdom – 1,078

United Nations - 932,964 troops served

Netherlands - 116Australia - 339

Belgium - 97

Canada - 516

Colombia - 146

Denmark (noncombat role)

Ethiopia - 122

France - 287

Greece - 194

India (noncombat role)

Italy (noncombat role)

United Nations Forces in Korea: (Nation – Number Killed in Action)

• U.S. General Douglas MacArthur led the U.N. force, approximately 80% of which were U.S. soldiers.

MacArthur at Inch'on

landing

Americans pushed to the Pusan Perimeter

…the North Koreans had pushed the U.N. forces to the southeast corner of the peninsula, where they dug in around the port of Pusan…a "grim-faced and business-like" MacArthur visited Eighth Army commander Walton Walker. A witness said that MacArthur told Walker, "There will be no Dunkirk in this command. To retire to Pusan will be unacceptable." Gen. Walker gave the "stand or die" order, and over the next six weeks a desperate, bloody struggle ensued as the North Koreans threw everything they had at American and ROK (South Korean) forces in an effort to gain complete control over Korea.

With what is widely considered the crowning example of his military genius, MacArthur completely changed the course of the war overnight by ordering -- over nearly unanimous objections -- an amphibious invasion at the port of Inchon, near Seoul…The Americans quickly gained control of Inchon, recaptured Seoul within days, and cut the North Korean supply lines. American and ROK forces broke out of the Pusan Perimeter and chased the retreating enemy north. On September 27, after Washington had consulted with its allies

Inchon

regarding war aims, MacArthur received permission to pursue the enemy into North Korea. ROK forces crossed the 38th parallel on October 1, opening a fateful new chapter in the conflict.

Approaching the Yalu

The Chinese army, which had been massing north of the Yalu River after secretly slipping into North Korea, struck with considerable force. After suffering setbacks, the U.N. forces stabilized their lines by November 5, only to watch the Chinese withdraw northward as quickly as they had struck. MacArthur was now worried enough to press Washington for greater latitude in taking the fight into China. He nevertheless launched a great offensive toward the end of November, which he optimistically hoped would end the war in Korea and "get the boys home by Christmas." It proved a terrible miscalculation.

An Entirely New War

MacArthur's "all-out offensive" to the Yalu had barely begun when the Chinese struck with awesome force on the night of November 25. Roughly 300,000 Chinese troops overwhelmed the U.N. forces. On November 28, a shaken MacArthur informed the Joint Chiefs, "We face an entirely new war."

MacArthur's men fought courageously and skillfully just to avoid annihilation, as they were pushed back down the peninsula. Seoul changed hands yet again on January 5. But under the able and energetic of General Matthew Ridgway, the U.N. retreat ended about 70 miles below Seoul.

Stalemate

Beginning January 15, 1952, Gen. Ridgway led the U.N. in a slow advance northward. Inflicting heavy casualties on the Chinese and North Koreans, the U.N. re-recaptured Seoul (the fourth and final time it changed hands!) on March 15, and had patrols crossing the 38th parallel on March 31. A stalemate ensued, which lasting for another two years. Not until nearly two million more had died did the Korean War end, when an armistice was signed on July 27, 1953.

Ending the War:

• President Truman disagreed with MacArthur about attacking China.

• Gen. MacArthur wanted to attack China with support of Chinese nationalists.

• U.N. troops regained South Korea by March of 1951.

• Truman fired MacArthur for defying him by publicly taunting and threatening the Chinese.

• In July of 1953, the Korean War ended, in which over 54,000 Americans died.

The Korean War: Concluding Video

South Korean troops patrol along the DMZ.

The Vietnam War

1954 - 1975

The Vietnam War

1954 - 1975

Chapter 23Chapter 23

Background to the War

Background to the War

France controlled “Indochina” France controlled “Indochina” since the late 19since the late 19thth century century

Japan took control during World Japan took control during World War IIWar II

With U.S. aid, France attempted With U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization in the postwar re-colonization in the postwar periodperiod

Background to the War

Background to the War

The French lost control to The French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Ho Chi Minh’s Viet MinhViet Minh forces in 1954 at forces in 1954 at Dien Bien Dien Bien PhuPhu

President Eisenhower President Eisenhower declined to intervene on declined to intervene on behalf of France.behalf of France.

Background to the War

Background to the War

International Conference at International Conference at GenevaGeneva Vietnam was divided at 17Vietnam was divided at 17thth

parallelparallelO Ho Chi Minh’sHo Chi Minh’s nationalist nationalist

forces controlled the Northforces controlled the NorthO Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem, a French-, a French-

educated, Roman Catholic educated, Roman Catholic claimed control of the claimed control of the SouthSouth

Background to the War

Background to the War

A date was set for democratic A date was set for democratic elections to reunify Vietnamelections to reunify Vietnam

Diem backed out of the Diem backed out of the elections, leading to military elections, leading to military conflict between North and conflict between North and SouthSouth

U.S. Military Involvement Begins

U.S. Military Involvement Begins

Repressive dictatorial rule by DiemRepressive dictatorial rule by Diem Diem’s family holds all powerDiem’s family holds all power Wealth is hoarded by the eliteWealth is hoarded by the elite Buddhist majority persecutedBuddhist majority persecuted Torture, lack of political freedom Torture, lack of political freedom

prevailprevail

The U.S. aided Diem’s governmentThe U.S. aided Diem’s government Ike sent financial and military aidIke sent financial and military aid 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by

1960.1960.

Early Protests of Diem’s Government

Early Protests of Diem’s Government

Self-Emolation by a Buddhist MonkSelf-Emolation by a Buddhist Monk

U.S. Military Involvement Begins

U.S. Military Involvement Begins

Kennedy elected 1960Kennedy elected 1960 Increases military “advisors” Increases military “advisors”

to 16,000to 16,000 1963: JFK supports a 1963: JFK supports a

Vietnamese military Vietnamese military coup coup d’etat d’etat – Diem and his brother – Diem and his brother are murdered are murdered (Nov. 2)(Nov. 2)

Kennedy was assassinated Kennedy was assassinated just weeks later just weeks later (Nov. 22)(Nov. 22)

Johnson Sends Ground ForcesJohnson Sends Ground Forces

Remembers Truman’s “loss” Remembers Truman’s “loss” of China of China Domino Theory Domino Theory revivedrevived

I’m not going to I’m not going to be the president be the president who saw who saw Southeast Asia Southeast Asia go the way China go the way China went.went.

Johnson Sends Ground ForcesJohnson Sends Ground Forces

Advised to rout the Advised to rout the communists by Secretary of communists by Secretary of Defense, Defense, Robert S. Robert S. McNamaraMcNamara

Tonkin Gulf Incident Tonkin Gulf Incident 1964 1964(acc. to Johnson, the attacks (acc. to Johnson, the attacks were unprovoked)were unprovoked)

Tonkin Gulf ResolutionTonkin Gulf Resolution ““The Blank Check” The Blank Check” **

U.S. Troop Deployments

in Vietnam

U.S. Troop Deployments

in Vietnam

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

1961 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968

U.S. Troops

The Ground War 1965-1968

The Ground War 1965-1968

No territorial goalsNo territorial goals Body counts on TV every night Body counts on TV every night

(first (first “living room” war“living room” war))

Viet Cong supplies over the Viet Cong supplies over the Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail

The Air War1965-1968

The Air War1965-1968

1965: Sustained bombing of North 1965: Sustained bombing of North VietnamVietnam

Operation Rolling Thunder Operation Rolling Thunder (March 2, (March 2, 1965)1965)

1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi 1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail..

Downed Pilots: P.O.W.sDowned Pilots: P.O.W.s Carpet Bombing – Carpet Bombing – napalmnapalm

The Air War:A Napalm Attack

The Air War:A Napalm Attack

Who Is the Enemy?

Who Is the Enemy?

VietcongVietcong: Farmers by day; guerillas at Farmers by day; guerillas at

night.night. Very patient people willing to Very patient people willing to

accept many casualties.accept many casualties. The US grossly The US grossly

underestimated their resolve underestimated their resolve and their resourcefulness.and their resourcefulness.

The guerilla wins if he does not The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win.if it does not win. -- Mao Mao ZedongZedong

Who Is the Enemy?

Who Is the Enemy?

The Ground War1965-1968

The Ground War1965-1968

General WestmorelandGeneral Westmoreland, late 1967:

We can see theWe can see the“light at the end of the tunnel.”“light at the end of the tunnel.”

The Tet Offensive, January 1968

The Tet Offensive, January 1968

N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously attack South simultaneously (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon)and the US embassy in Saigon)

Take every major southern cityTake every major southern city U.S. + ARVN beat back the U.S. + ARVN beat back the

offensiveoffensive Viet Cong destroyedViet Cong destroyed N. Vietnamese army debilitatedN. Vietnamese army debilitated BUT…it’s seen as an American BUT…it’s seen as an American

defeat by the mediadefeat by the media

The Tet Offensive, January

1968

The Tet Offensive, January

1968

Impact of the Tet OffensiveImpact of the Tet Offensive

Domestic U.S. Reaction: Domestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administrationof Johnson Administration

Hey, Hey LBJ! How Hey, Hey LBJ! How

many kids did many kids did youyou kill today? kill today?