Asian Cold War Origins: Power Struggle in China & Korean War Impact

1. Chapter 18 Section 2 NotesOrigins of The Cold War in Asia

2. Struggle for Power in China • Had been going on before WWII (since 1927) • Nationalists (led by Chiang Kai-Shek) • In charge before and during WWII • U.S. provided $3 billion in aid during war • Fought against Japanese • Used traditional military tactics • Govt. was corrupt • not well liked by commoners • Communists(led by Mao Zedong) • Gradually gained support before WWII • Became popular with commoners • Promised land, food, education • Put aside differences with Nationalists during WWII to fight “a common enemy” • Fought separate from Nationalists • Less casualties • Used guerilla war tactics

3. Civil War continues after WWII(1946 – 1949) • Nationalists supported by U.S. • Sent $2 billion in aide • Form of containment • No troops • Communists supported by Soviets • Sent unknown amount in aide • No troops • Communists eventually win • Mao becomes leader • New Govt. Formed • People’s Republic of China

4. U.S. Reaction to Communist victory in China • U.S. Govt. refused to officially acknowledge the new govt. • Truman’s administration criticized for not giving more $ to Nationalists. • Accusations started to fly that there were Communist agents in the U.S. govt. • More in Sec. 3

5. Origins of Korean War • Japan controlled Korean peninsula before WWII • At end of WWII • Japanese troopsNorth of 38th Parallel surrender to Soviet troops • Becomes Communist – North Korea (Pyongyang) • Led By Kim Il Sung • Japanese troopsSouth of 38th Parallel surrender to U.S. troops • Becomes Democratic – South Korea (Seoul) • Seoul is traditional capital city of entire peninsula • Led by Syngman Rhee Syngman Kim

6. Buildup to Korean War • U.S. slowly withdraws its military from S. Korea after WWII • By 1949, only 500 troops still there • N. Korea sees this as an opportunity to unify the Korean peninsula under one Communist rule • Get supplies from Soviet Union and China • No troops (at 1st) • Surprise attack begins June, 1950 • Almost capture all of S. Korea • Controlled 90% of it in 1st 3 months • Map #2 in textbook pg. 613

7. United Nations votes to help • Unanimous • Soviets don’t vote • China & N Korea not in it yet • Over 500,000 troops sent to help S. Korea (90% were U.S.) • S. Korea forms army of 600,000. • Entire army led by General MacArthur • U.N. army wins all territory back and takes 70% of the area of N. Korea • Map #3 in textbook on pg. 613

8. China enters the fight • China doesn’t want an entirely democratic Korean peninsula bordering them • Sent about 1.3 million troops across the Yalu River • Pushes back U.N. and S. Korean army • Recaptures all of N. Korea and around 10% of the area of S. Korea • including capital of Seoul • U.N. Army recaptures Seoul and rest of S. Korea Chinese propaganda during Korean War Chinese army before crossing the Yalu

9. Gen. MacArthur wants to attack China • Would break the stalemate • Proposes full scale bombing runs • Even suggests using nuclear weapons • Publicly criticized Truman for being “weak” • Most of American public agreed with him at the time

10. Truman Fires MacArthur • Trumandoesn’t want to start a much larger conflict • Soviets have nuclear weapons by now • After repeated warnings to remain quiet and follow orders, MacArthur gets fired • MacArthur returns to the U.S. a hero • Has a parade • Lots of interviews with the press • Over time, most people think Truman made the right call MacArthur’s parade in NY

12. Overall Impact of Korean War • Stalemate between the 2 sides for 2 years before armistice (mid 1953) • Never sign a peace treaty (still none to this day!) • Very little territory changes. Basically the same as before the war. • Death Tolls(estimates include Korean civilians) • 54,000 UN Troops (50,000 from U.S.) • 150,000 S. Koreans • 250,000 Chinese • 350,000 N. Koreans • Outcome? = seen as a failure • WHY? • U.S. spent about $67 billion • Original objective achieved • S. Korea remains Democratic • Didn’t change N. Korea • It remains Communist • Still trouble today!!!

14. This is a NASA satellite image of the Korean peninsula at night (with the coast artificially outlined to differentiate between land and water). This visual shows how two nations (born at the same time) have progressed over the course of the past 60+ years.  Democratic, capitalist South Korea has a thriving economy and gleams with prosperity while totalitarian, communist North Korea is kept in the dark with numerous oppressive rules.   Satellite Image of the Korean Peninsula at Night (2010)

15. Political Impact of Korean War in U.S. • Democrats lose the Presidency • Eisenhower (Repub) elected in 1952 • 1st Republican Pres. in 20 years • Former military General in WWII • MacArthur ran as a 3rd party candidate • Didn’t get Republican nomination • Fear of Communism spreading to U.S. • Want strong leadership (see above)