Download Aim: Cold War Battles

Aim: Vietnam War
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Homework: Page 785 #4-6
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*Cold War Test on Tuesday
Korean War
• After World War II, Korea
was divided at the 38th
parallel
• North Korea was
governed by communists
supported by the Soviet
Union
• US backed noncommunist government in
South Korea
Advances and Retreats
• 1950, North Korea
moved across the 38th
Parallel
• Truman sent in army
was unsuccessful at
keeping North
Koreans back
• By August,
communists
controlled almost all
of Korea
•
Turning
Point
Douglas Macarthur led
surprise attack and
pushed North Koreans
back past 38th Parallel
• MacArthur wanted to
unite Korea and sent
troops into North Korea
• Chinese troops moved
into North Korea and
Americans retreated back
into South Korea
Ending the War
• MacArthur wanted to
attack China, in order to
regain total control
• Truman thought an attack
would begin another
world war and rejected
the idea
• After almost 2 years of
peace talks, President
Eisenhower led a ceasefire between the two
nations
Costs of War
• 54,000 Americans lost
their lives during the
Korean War
• 2 million Koreans and
Chinese , lost their
lives
• Today, North Korea
still remains a threat
to the U.S.
Struggle over Countries
• US and Soviet Union
struggled over nations
of Africa, Asia and
Latin America
• Both the Soviets and
the US gave aid to
these nations, hoping
to influence them
Philippines
• Philippines granted
independence on July
4, 1946
• Communist rebels
attempted to gain
power, but were
defeated
• In 1965, Ferdinand
Marcos became
President
India and Southeast Asia
• In 1947, India gained
independence from
Britain
• India divided into two
nations; India and
Pakistan
• Pakistan became an ally
of the US
• India remained neutral
but accepted money from
both superpowers
African Nations
• More than 30 nations
gained independence
in the 50’s and 60’s
• US and Soviet Union
competed for allies,
providing economic
and military support
• Superpowers fueled
many civil wars in
Africa
Latin America
• Throughout the Cold
War, American
Presidents supported
dictators because
they were anticommunist
• Latin America were
angry with the US for
using the “Big Stick
Policy”
Vietnam War
• North Vietnam
became a communist
nation under Ho Chi
Minh
• South Vietnam
remained loyal to the
United States
• Communist Guerrillas
called Vietcong
spread influence
within South Vietnam
Domino Theory
• The idea that if one
nation in Southeast
Asia fell to
communism,
neighboring countries
would as well
• US sent in troops to
help prevent
communist control
over South Vietnam
US involvement increases
• Gulf of Tonkin
Resolution allowed
President to take all
necessary measures
to repeal any armed
attack or to prevent
further aggression
• By 1968 President
Johnson sent more
than 500,000 troops
to fight
Division at Home
• Hawks: Pro-War
• Doves: Pro-Peace
• Media allowed
Americans to view
ugly side of war,
causing more
opposition
End of War
• Tet Offensive: Vietcong
attacked Saigan, the
Capital of South Vietnam
• Even though US troops
pushed Vietcong back,
US realized how strong
Vietcong were
• Nixon was elected with
promise of ending the war
• Between 1961 and 1973,
over 58,000 Americans
lost their lives
• More that a million
Vietnamese soldiers die
and a half a million
civilians died
• War made many question
how far the US should go
to fight communism?