Korea9321

1. After WWII Soviets occupied the northern part of Korea and the US had everything below it, and with a noncommunist leader and the US by its side, South Korea didn't go red, but North Korea did.
 * 9 facts**

2. The Korean War started in June of 1950 when North Korean forces crossed over into South Korea, and Truman and the US appealed to the UN to stop the nation by sending in troops, mostly American, with the great General Douglas MacArthur.

3. In August the South Koreans were by Pusan. General Walter Walkon established the Pusan perimeter in which they made a rectangle in the far south of the peninsula and the Eighth Army came in from Pusan. The KPA (Korean People's Army) attacked for a month before they were in bad shape and they eventually withdrew and the UN's army won by September 27.

4. At first North Korea pushed South Koreans back very far, but MacArthur's plan reversed the situation by putting troops in Inchon, a port city in North Korea. This plan took place in September of 1950, and it was called Operation Chromite.

5. China thought the UN forces in North Korea was a threat to China's security and they warned them that they would enterthe war if the UN forces went towards the Yalu River, and at the end of November in 1950 the Chinese crossed the river and drove the UN troops back to South Korea.

6. MacArthur wanted to blockade China's coastline and bomb them, but Truman said no and thought MacArthur 's public critisism of Truman's decision was undermining civilian control of the army, and Truman fired MacArthur and sent him home. People saw MacArthur as a hero.

7. The war became very unpopular, and by July 1951 Truman and the Soviets discussed a truce. These talks went on for two years, even through the 1952 presidental campaign when Truman did not run again.

8. In the 1952 election the Republicans picked Dwight D. Eisenhower and Democrats chose Adlai Stevenson. Eisenhower won by a landslide. During talks with Soviets and Chinese Eisenhower agreed to compromise to end the war. He also quietly warned that he would use nuclear weapons and go into China.

9. A cease-fire ended the war in July 1953, and Korea was the same as before, with the 38th parallel border. Communism was CONTAINED in Korea, but Americans were frustrated by the war.

A Korean girl and her brother walk beside a tank in Korea on June 9, 1951. The war resulted in many split up families and refugees. --Image from National Archives
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First Division Marines climb ladders to get over the sea wall in Inchon on Septemer 15, 1950. --Image from National Archives

General Walton Walker crosses the Naktong River. His troops established the Pusan perimeter. --Image from National Archives

This is a map of Korea showing invasions and advances and where different battles took place. --http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/search/display.aspx?entryid=265768
 * 2 Maps**

This map shows where North and South Korea was split at 38 degrees. --http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/koreanpn.htm

"I will defend Korea as I would my own country—just as I would California." -- Gen. Douglas MacArthur to Dr. Syngman Rhee, President of the two-month-old South Korean Republic, October 1948
 * 1 Quote**