Korean War
(June 1950 - July 1953) (jun 28, 1950 – jul 18, 1953)
Description:
shooting phase of cold war, started in June 1950; When Japan collapsed (1945), USSR troops accepted Japanese surrender N. of 38th parallel on Korean peninsula, US troops did same S of that line; Both powers want reunification & indie Korea (Japanese colony since 1910), Set up rival regimes above & below 38th parallel;
Entire peninsula = armed camp by 1949; (June 25 1950) N. Korean army crossed parallel; S, Koreans pushed back S to tiny defensive area around Pusan;
Invasion = proof of containment doctrine, US lets down guard → communist aggression; Korean invasion → US military expansion; Few months prior, Truman's National Security Council issued NSC-68;
Truman took full advantage of temporary absence from UN Security Council (June 25 1950) to make unanimous condemnation of N. Korea, Called upon all UN members, including US, to do whatever to restore peace; Truman ordered US air & naval units to support S. Korea w/o consulting Congress;
Truman also ordered Douglas MacArthur's Japan-based occupation troops into action alongside S. Koreans in same week as ^^, Beginning of Korean War;
US technically participating in UN "police action", Participating nations make sig troops contributions like Brit, Canada, Philippines; US provided 88% of troops, MacArthur took orders from Truman, not Security Council;
MacArthur launched landing behind enemy lines at Inchon (Sept 15 1950), was bold, successful, Truman wanted to restore old borders, pursuing S. Koreans already crossed 38th parallel; UN General Assembly authorized crossing by MacArthur; Chinese publicly warned attack if troops cross Yalu Riv boundary btwn CHina & Korea; MacArthur called effective intervention by Chinese stinky, thought conflict would be done by Christmas;
(Nov 1950) Chinese "volunteers" attacked overextended lines, pushed UN forces back down peninsula, Fighting sank into stalemate near 38th parallel;
MacArthur pushed for drastic retaliation, Suggested that US use nuclear weapons on advancing Chinese, Wash didn't want to enlarge already costly conflict; When he criticized Truman's policies publicly→ Truman had to remove him from command (Apr. 11 1951);
Truce discussion (July 1950) started in tent near firing line, snagged on issue of prisoner exchange, Talks dragged on for 2 years;
econ upturn (1950) fueled by budget for this;
Added to timeline:
APUSH 2 - Unit 4
Date:
