Korean War (jun 25, 1950 – jul 27, 1953)

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This whole conflict was started due to the splitting of Korea along the 38th parallel between the United States and the Soviet Union following WWII. Of course, the Soviets backed a communist government led by Kim Il Sung in North Korea while the US backed a right wing Nationalist named Syngman Rhee in South Korea. There had been tensions between the North and South ever since 1945, but neither side was willing to launch an all out attack without the military backing of their respective sponsor. Both the US and the Soviets refused until 1950 when Stalin permitted Kim to go ahead after he promised a swift victory. An army created by the UN was sent into Korea soon after under the lead of the United States. Although basically nothing was gained in the Korean war for anybody (the boundary at the 38th parallel remained the same afterwards), it certainly had some profound effects. Mainly, the Korean War expanded the involvement of America within Asia and also ended Truman's resistance to a large military budget. In fact, the expense went for $13 billion in 1950 to $50 billion in 1953. At this point now, the United States was in a state of constant vigilance.

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