THE KOREAN WAR•After WWII, a civil war breaks out in China•Mao Zedong led Communists, Chiang Kai-Shek led nationalists•Communists claim victory in 1949•Conservatives in US rip Truman for “losing” China, quick to point out failure of containment

The Korean War•After WWII, Korea is split in two(38th Parallel), with hopes of reuniting both sides •Hopes for peaceful settlement vanish when Soviet backed North Korean troops invaded US backed South Korea in June 1950•UN Security Council condemns invasion, demands immediate pullout of North Korean forces

Early Stages of War

•US-led UN forces will fight a limited war•Sept. 1950, US-led UN forces arrive to drive North Korea out•UN will land at Pusan and Inchon

UN involvement

•US lands force at Inchon to cut off retreating North Koreans.

UN Holds advantage•By Oct. 1, 1950 UN forces have recaptured much of South Korea(goal met)•New UN goal becomes to establish unified, independent Korea, China warns UN not to •UN forces invade North Korea, capture capital Pyongyang and move closer to China•Nov. 1950, Chinese forces attack in the Yalu River Valley, push UN forces back

Massive Change•Heroic stand made by US at the Chosin Reservoir, they hold on until Dec., however are forced to retreat south. US inflicts mass casualties on Chinese during retreat.•Jan.-July 1951 fighting goes back and forth along 38th parallel•Truman goes back to original goal

•McArthur disagrees, stating “there is no substitute for victory”. He openly criticizes Truman, Truman fires MacArthur.•MacArthur returns to US a hero while many Americans question Truman

•July ‘51-’53 stalemate ensues•1952 election sees Eisenhower(Rep.) defeat Stevenson (Dem.)

•July 1953 cease fire signed, 2 countries remain with a 2.5 mile border(DMZ)•33,296 US troops killed, original objective of maintaining South Korea is achieved, many question high cost for a tie

Helicopter are used on a wide scale for the first time

•MASH units saved thousands of lives during the war•US shows it is willing to use force to check communist aggression around the world

Jet planes are also used on a large scale for 1st time. US F-86 Sabres Vs. Soviet MiG-15