Ch.+29-+Korean+War

=** __The Korean War__  **= __**Events Leading Up to the War**__ Korea, once a Japanese colony, was divided at the 38th parallel after Japan's defeat in WWII. The Soviet Union occupied the northern part while the United States occupied the southern part. When, in 1949, the forces of both countries left Korea, the North came under the control of the Communist leader [|Kim II Sung], while the South came under the control of the conservative nationalist Syngman Rhee.

__**The Korean War**__ On Jun 25, 1950, North Korea shocked the world by attacking South Korea. President Truman believed that the attack was planned by the Soviet Union; thus he responded immediately. Using advantage of the Soviet absence in the U.N. Security Council, Truman sent U.N. forces, mostly consisting of American soldiers under [|General Douglas MacArthur], to help the South Korean army. President Truman stated that the U.S. involvement in the war was a "police action" aimed at containment and "liberation." He wanted to reunite Korea. As the war pressed on, the North Koreans invaded South Korea and pushed the American and South Korean armies to the tip of South Korea. Due to the leadership of General Douglas MacArthur, the U.N. and South Korean forces began to strike back. The North Korean capital, Pyongyang, was captured by the U.N. forces on October 19. As the war approached the Chinese border, a new conflict began. Fearing an invasion, Chinese forces attacked the U.N. armies on November 4th 1950, pushing back the U.N. and South Korean forces to approximately the 38th parallel by December 1950.

__**Internal Issues**__ After China attacked the U.N. troops, Truman did respond militarily. He wanted to avoid a war with China. General MacArthur asked Truman to include China in the war by requesting the bombing and invasion of China. Truman, still the commander in chief, warned the general not to make public statements. After MacArthur failed to meet Truman's request, Truman recalled the general for insubordination. General MacArthur was treated as a hero upon his return to the U.S. Most Americans used MacArthur's slogan "there is no substitute for victory" to criticize Truman for being "soft on Communism." __**The Final Stages and the Aftermath of the War**__ In July 1951, peace talks began, and in 1953, the armistice was signed. The Korean War ended in a stalemate and the North and South Korean border was established just north the original 38th parallel. Truman was credited for avoiding a nuclear war with the Soviet Union. The fact that the Containment Policy partially worked, however, was not enough for the Republicans. They were upset in that North Korea, and previously China, had fallen to Communism. This majority believed that Truman had failed in containing Communism.

The [|Korean War] boosted the American economy. President Truman tried to reduce inflation by keeping prices down and discouraging union wage demands by creating the Office of Defense Mobilization. Truman's efforts, however, proved to be unsuccessful. When, in 1951, railroad workers went on strike, Truman ordered a seizure of the railroads. He also ordered the seizure of the steel mills when, in 1952, a national steel strike arose. The Supreme Court later ruled that Truman had exceeded the powers given to him. In the end, all of Truman's actions to avoid inflation were unsuccessful. The war did, however, introduce new government funds that successfully avoided a certain recession. In conclusion, President Truman was partially successful limiting the spread of Communism in Korea. At the same time, however, more than 140,000 Americans had died or had been wounded during the Korean War. **
 * __America During the War__

__**Sources**__
 * American History (textbook) - Alan Brinkley
 * United States History: Preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination (AMSCO) - John J. Newman and John M. Schmalbach
 * The Princeton Review: Cracking the AP U.S. History Exam (2010 Edition) - Tom Meltzer, Jean Hofheimer Bennett, and Susan Babkes
 * Barrons: AP United States History Flash Cards - Michael R. Bergman and Kevin D. Preis
 * Picture: Girl with baby - []
 * Picture: Offensives- []
 * Picture: General Douglas MacArthur - []

__**External Links**__
 * Answers: []
 * Douglas MacArthur: []
 * Naval History and Heritage: []