Transcript Chapter 18 Section 2 Notes Origins of The Cold War in Asia

Chapter 18 Section 2 Notes
Origins of The Cold War in Asia
Struggle for Power in China
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Had been going on before WWII
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Nationalists (led by Chiang Kai-Shek)
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In charge before and during WWII
U.S. provided $3 billion in aid during war
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Fought against Japanese
Used traditional military tactics
Govt. was corrupt
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not well liked by commoners
Communists
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(led by Mao Zedong)
Gradually gained support before WWII
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(since 1927)
Became popular with commoners
Promised land, food, education
Put aside differences with Nationalists
during WWII to fight “a common enemy”
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Fought separate from Nationalists
Less casualties
Used guerilla war tactics
Civil War continues after WWII
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Nationalists supported by U.S.
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Sent $2 billion in aide
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No troops
Communists supported by Soviets
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Form of containment
Sent unknown amount in aide
No troops
Communists eventually win
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Mao becomes leader
New Govt. Formed
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People’s Republic of China
(1946 – 1949)
U.S. Reaction to Communist victory in China
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U.S. Govt. refused to officially acknowledge the new govt.
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Truman’s administration criticized for not giving more $ to Nationalists.
Accusations started to fly that there were Communist agents in the U.S. govt.
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More in Sec. 3
Origins of Korean War
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Japan controlled Korean peninsula before WWII
At end of WWII
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Japanese troops North of 38th
Parallel surrender to Soviet troops
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Becomes Communist – North Korea (Pyongyang)
Led By Kim Il Sung
Japanese troops South of 38th
Parallel surrender to U.S. troops
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Becomes Democratic – South Korea (Seoul)
Led by Syngman Rhee
Kim
Syngman
Buildup to Korean War
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U.S. slowly withdraws its military from S. Korea after WWII
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N. Korea sees this as an opportunity to unify the Korean peninsula under
one Communist rule
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By 1949, only 500 troops still there
Get supplies from Soviet Union and China
No troops (at 1st)
Surprise attack begins June, 1950
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Almost capture all of S. Korea
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Controlled 90% of it in 1st 3 months
Map #2 in textbook pg. 613
United Nations votes to help
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Unanimous
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Soviets don’t vote
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China & N Korea not in
Over 500,000 troops sent to help S. Korea (90% were U.S.)
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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
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Map #3 in textbook on pg. 613
China enters the fight
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China doesn’t want an entirely democratic Korean peninsula bordering them
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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
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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
Gen. MacArthur wants to attack China
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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
Truman Fires MacArthur
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Truman doesn’t want to start a much larger conflict
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After repeated warnings to remain quiet
and follow orders, MacArthur gets fired
MacArthur returns to the U.S. a hero
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Soviets have nuclear weapons by now
Has a parade
Lots of interviews with the press
Over time, most people think Truman
made the right call
MacArthur’s parade in NY
Overall Impact of Korean War
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Stalemate between the 2 sides for 2 years before armistice (mid 1953)
 Never sign a peace treaty (still none to this day!)
 little territory changes. Basically the same as before the war.
Death Tolls (estimates include Korean civilians)
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54,000 UN Troops (most U.S.)
150,000 S. Koreans
250,000 Chinese
350,000 N. Koreans
U.S. spent about $67 billion
War seen as a failure
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Original objective achieved
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S. Korea remains Democratic
Didn’t change N. Korea
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It remains Communist
Satellite Image of the Korean Peninsula at Night (2010)
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.
Political Impact of Korean War in U.S.
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Democrats lose the Presidency
 Eisenhower (Repub) elected in 1952
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1st Republican Pres. in 20 years
Former military General in WWII
MacArthur ran as a 3rd party candidate
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Didn’t get Republican nomination
Fear of Communism spreading to U.S.
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Want strong leadership (see above)