Transcript The Cold War: The Korean and Vietnam Wars

The Cold War: The Korean
and Vietnam Wars
Background
• Containment: the American policy of
preventing the spread of Communism
led to American involvement in
several overseas affairs. These fights
were against communism, but never
technically against the Soviet Union
The Korean War
• After World War II:
Korea is divided into
Communist North and
a Democratic South
at the 38th parallel.
• 1950: North Korea,
with the aid of the
Soviet Union, invaded
South Korea, pushing
the South Koreans to
the Southeast part of
the nation.
•On June 25, 1950 - North
Koreans surprise attacked the
south
•Truman thought the Soviets (
North Koreans) were trying to
take over the Eastern
Hemisphere and turn it
communist
•He put his containment policy
into effect and US helped the
South Koreans resist communism
• November 1950:
American and South
Korean troops push
back and force the
fighting almost to
border between Korea
and China.
– The Chinese felt
threatened, and
entered the fight on the
side of the Communist
North.
• 1951: War rages back
and forth over the
country.
– Douglas MacArthur,
Commander of the
American forces, calls
for nuclear war and is
refused.
•The Chinese army
defeated the UN troops,
capturing Seoul in 1951
•By 1952- the UN was able
to push the North back up
North
•In July 1953- The UN
forced North Korean to
sign a cease fire
•Border set at 38th
parallel
•5 million troops died
• 1953: Cease-fire
agreement signed
between North
Korea and the allied
American/South
Korean forces.
– It established a new
border between the
Koreas at the 38th
parallel.
• Today: Korea
remains divided
between a
communist North
Korea and a
democratic South
Korea.
Aftermath of the Korean War
NORTH KOREA
• In North Korea, Kim Il Sung
established collective farms and
built up the military
• In 1994 Kim Jong Il took power
• developed nuclear weapons
• Food shortages
• Fuel shortages
• Economic problems
Aftermath of the Korean War
South Korea
• South Korean prospered
thanks to the US aid
• Free elections
• High economic growth
• Communist North Koreans
firmly opposed reunification
Vietnam
• Before World War II:
Vietnam is owned by
France for its resources
and trade purposes.
• After World War II: France
regains control of
Vietnam, but the people
of Vietnam wanted to rule
their own nation
– By the 1950s the US had
begun providing
financial aid to the
former French colony,
hoping they would resist
communist pressure
from China
• Truman’s
Containment Policy
• France controlled Indochina
• Nationalist movements broke out, headed
by Ho Chi Minh, a communist
• During WWII Japan took over till 1945
• After Japan left Ho Chi Minh thought they
would get independence
• France thought differently and wanted to
remain in control
War Breaks Out
• Vietnamese Nationalists and Communists
joined to fight the French
• In 1954 the French surrendered
• The US had supported the French and
when the French left they thought all of
Asia would fall to communism
• Tensions Increase: the South Vietnamese
nationalist leader, Ngo Dinh Diem, although
supported by the United States, is very
unpopular with the people.
– His government is overthrown and he is
assassinated.
– The people of Vietnam want a unified country
under Ho Chi Minh. The Americans are afraid of
the domino theory, and so begin to fight to
keep Vietnam from communism.
• Domino theory: the theory that if one country falls to
communism, the rest will soon fall.
• Comes from the policy of containment.
Containment
Domino
Theory
• The War: The Vietnam War rages for many
years.
– Fought between the Vietcong (the Communist
guerrilla army) and the North Vietnamese army
vs. the army of the United States.
• The United States is at a disadvantage because they
are not used to fighting a group that uses hit and run
tactics.
– By 1965, due to heavy casualties and few
victories, the war is losing support in the United
States.
– By 1975, all the Americans are removed from the
country and Vietnam is now owned by the
people again.
Tunnels
Bouncing Betty
Punji Spikes
Punji Pit
Trip Wire
Aftermath of the War
• 1.5 million Vietnamese died
• 58,000 Americans died
• After 1975, many Southern
Vietnamese were sent to
“reeducation camps” to learn
about communism
• 1.5 million people left Vietnam
• Vietnam Today: A unified communist
country that trades frequently with the
United States.
• Processing: How did the US policy of
containment contribute to these
conflicts?
Cambodia
• Vietnam was not the only problem in Asia
• Cambodia also suffered US bombings
• In 1975 Communist Rebels known as the
Khmer Rouge set up a brutal communist
government, under Pol Pot
• Killed 2 million
• In 1978 the Vietnamese finally took over
and overthrow Pol Pot
• 1993 Cambodia under UN supervision
adopted democracy and had free
elections
• 1997- Pol Pot was captured and jailed
Cuban Missile Crisis
Coming Up…
• Fidel Castro – leader in Cuba
• Kennedy – president of the U.S.
• USSR setting up missiles in Cuba
• U.S. spy discovered the sites
• Missiles in Cuba viewed as a threat
by the U.S. government
• USSR refused to back down
• Closest the world has come to
another nuclear war