the cold war finally thaws out - hudson.k12.oh.us€¦ · the cold war finally thaws out korean war...
TRANSCRIPT
The Cold War Finally Thaws Out
Korean War (1950-1953) Vietnam War (1963-1973) Afghan War (1979-1989)
Korean war
• Split after WWII between US and USSR – Temporary gov’ts
created in images of their major allies
– Reunification of Korea desired by BOTH sides
So Who Gets Control?
• Kim Il Sung leads North – Communist
• Syngman Rhee leads South – Democrat
• In 1949 the US and USSR agree to leave the country – USSR leaves military equipment
in the North
Condemning the South Koreans
• US Sec of State Dean Acheson says the protection of the South is now the UN’s responsibility
Invasion and Counter-Punch • 25 June 1950 – North Korea invades very
quickly and pushes for Seoul • Battle of Pusan Perimeter (4 Aug – 18 Sept
1950) – Large-scale battle between United Nations and
North Korean – 140,000 UN troops were pushed to the brink of
defeat were rallied to make a stand against the invading N. Korean army
– UN forces had been repeatedly defeated by North Korea and pushed back to “Pusan Perimeter”
– UN troops hold and North Korea is forced back after a counter attack at Inchon
Move North
• After the successful counter-attack at Inchon, UN under MacArthur moves north quickly – Make it to the Yalu River
• China threatens US and then gets into the fray pushing UN back below 38th
Truman and the End of the War
• MacArthur wants to use nukes…makes it public – Truman fires him for insubordination
• UN does not want to get into a bigger battle in China
• Eisenhower signs armistice • 27 July 1953 - DMZ created but no
treaty is ever signed
Short History of Vietnam
• French controlled colony – By 1900s the nationalists were starting to fight
back • Ho Chi Minh, leading Vietnamese nationalist
– Joined the French Communist party after Lenin took over Russia
– Started organizing a nationalist resistance against France
– During WWII, Japan captured Vietnam but the French took it back after WWII • Ho Chi Minh tried to get the US to help him
against France but the US refused • Turns to the USSR for help instead
The 1st Vietnam War • France tries to rebuild empire – France held major cities – Nationalists had countryside support and use
guerrilla fighting
• Loss at Dien Bien Phu (1954) – Nationalists defeat the French – Result: Splits Vietnam on the 17th parallel
• North is Ho Chi Minh’s • South is lead by Ngo Dinh Diem
– Agreement for general election that the US refuses to agree to (afraid of communists)
The Aftermath • Diem ruled the S like a dictator – Vietcong – Communist guerrillas who
opposed Diem’s rule and the division of Vietnam
• Diem assassinated in 1963 by a group of S. Vietnamese generals – Take over by the Vietcong seemed inevitable
Domino Theory
• Idea put forth by Eisenhower • Said that the SE Asian nations were like
a row of dominos – The fall of one country to communism
would lead to the fall of its neighbors
• Theory becomes a justification for US intervention during the Cold War
Gulf of Tonkin Incident • 2 Aug 1964 North Vietnam attacked USS
Maddox – LBJ decides to escalate the war – US troops now on the front line • By 1965 US troops were in combat and US planes
were bombing N. Vietnam
• Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – President can take all necessary measures to
prevent further Communist aggression in SE Asia
US Difficulties • Many peasants were rebels – Knew the land, US soldiers did not – More people were willing to help them – Problem for the US because it turned all
villages into military targets • Unpopular to attack civilians
• North was aided by USSR and China – Were vicious in their attacks but there was
retaliation
US Tactics
• Napalm – mixture of thickening/gelling agent and petroleum for an incendiary device – Widely used as an anti-personnel device
• Agent Orange – herbicide used on trees and vegetation in Vietnam
• Air Power – When the US could not win a decisive land
battle they turned to carpet bombing N. Vietnam
Tunnel System
• One of N. Vietnam’s greatest advantages was the tunnel system dug during French occupation – Main reason the US could not pin them down
• Allowed Vietcong to move quickly and to disappear if bombing started
• Tunnel Rats – American and British soldiers who were small enough to fit in the tunnels – Went in with a knife, silenced side-arm, and
flashlight to kill Vietcong in the tunnels
Khmer Rouge in Cambodia • Communist rebels who set up a brutal
gov’t under the leadership of Pol Pot – Slaughtered over 2 million people to put
gov’t in place – Supported by the UNITED STATES – Vietnamese invaded in 1978 and overthrew
the Khmer Rouge • Fighting continued
• 1993 – Under UN peacekeepers, Cambodia adopted a democratic constitution and held free elections
Vietnamization
• Plan devised by Nixon – Authorized bombing in Laos and
Cambodia to make this work
• Allowed US troops to gradually pull out while S. Vietnam increased their combat roles – Last troops left in 1973