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Korea. World History Chapter 32. A Brief History. Korea is divided at the 38 th parallel line (now called the De-Militarized Zone) In 1950, the communist controlled North Koreans, decided to attack South Korea backed by a communist China President Harry Truman was in charge during this time
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Korea World History Chapter 32
A Brief History • Korea is divided at the 38th parallel line (now called the De-Militarized Zone) • In 1950, the communist controlled North Koreans, decided to attack South Korea backed by a communist China • President Harry Truman was in charge during this time • He asked the UN Security Council to help with the invasion to prevent the spread of communism
Americans fight • Within two days, Americans stationed in Japan were fighting against the North Koreans • Congress never officially declared war, so Truman exercised his commander-in-chief role and called it a “police action” • Truman wanted to force the communists back to the 38th parallel but China threatened to bring all out war • In September 1950, General Douglas MacArthur – who was in charge of American forces – drove the communist forces back to the 38th parallel despite China’s warning
Fighting continued… • General MacArthur wanted to use the atomic bomb on China but Truman never did • China warned that MacArthur and the Americans should not cross the Yalu River (which separated China and Korea) but they crossed it anyway • 1 million Chinese beat the American forces back past the 38th parallel • Then in 1951, UN forces assisted in fighting back to the 38th parallel
End of the fighting • MacArthur wanted to push the Chinese back across the Yalu River and then bomb them • President Truman instructed MacArthur to not pursue the Chinese but the general pursued anyway • General MacArthur was relieved of his command for insubordination (disobedience) and the fighting ended in a stalemate (or draw) • In all, 33,000 Americans died in the battles and over 100,000 were wounded
This is the only accessible crossing point in Korea that is always guarded
Vietnam World History Chapter 32
A Brief History • Before and after the second world war, France controlled Vietnam • A nationalist leader rose into power in north Vietnam named Ho Chi Minh • He was communist educated and was determined to win independence for his country from the French • In 1954, France pulled and the North fought with the South • Ngo Dinh Diem was the leader in the south • The north was supported by communist China, so naturally, the US supported the south
Battle lines drawn • President Eisenhower never sent troops, but sent advisors to help with the war effortsagainst the North Vietnam Army (NVA) • President JFK sent even more advisors, but still no troops • Eventually, President Lyndon B. Johnson sends troops to fight • Johnson believed that if South Vietnam fell, the rest of Asia would be threatened (called it the “Domino Theory”)
Beginning of battle • For the draft for the US, a system of lottery draft was set up – where the older the male was sent first to battle • In 1964, the USS Maddox was fired upon by North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin • LBJ bombs the north heavily • North Vietnam use guerrilla warfare style tactics to play cat-and-mouse with American forces • In response, American forces dropped napalm (a highly flammable jellied gasoline) on large areas to burn down thick jungles and drive the NVA out
Tet Offensive • The north and south Vietnamese forces agreed to a two-day cease-fire to observe the most important Vietnamese holiday (the first day of the lunar calendar) • However, early morning, January 31st 1968, the Vietcong attacked major cities like Saigon to try ensure a quick victory • This was the largest communist assault called the ‘Tet Offensive’ • Even though they had the element of surprise, the Vietcong was beaten back
End of battle and US pull-out • In 1969, Nixon started the process of Vietnamization – where he taught SV troops how to fight • The president was receiving a lot of pressure at home to bring home US troops • In 1973, the US pulled out and left the south to fend for itself • In 1975, Saigon fell and communists took over – they renamed Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City • American troops received no welcome home, were looked upon with disgrace, and the entire war cost Americans 58,196 lives – which are all listed on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. – SEE VIDEO • Eventually, all history of events were released in a secret set of documents called the Pentagon Papers