unit 10.9. after wwii, japan came under the sole control of the u.s. general macarthur in charge...
TRANSCRIPT
The Cold War in Asia &The Korean War
UNIT 10.9
Japan
After WWII, Japan came under the sole control of the U.S. General MacArthur in charge of reconstruction
New constitution (May 1947) set up a parliamentary democracy in Japan New constitution limited Japan’s military
capabilities
As a result, Japan depended on the military protection of the U.S.
Japan
U.S.-Japanese Security Treaty 1951: The occupation of Japan ended with the
signing of a peace treaty and Japan agreeing to surrender its claim to Korea and other Pacific islands
A second treaty provided for U.S. troops to remain in military bases in Japan for the country’s protection against external enemies (i.e. Communism)
Japan became a strong ally and prospered under American protection
China
As soon as WWII ended, a civil war dating back to the 1930s was renewed between Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist party and Chinese Communists led by Mao Zedong
Nationalists were losing popularity because of runaway inflation and widespread corruption; Mao’s Communists successfully appealed to the poorer classes
China
U.S. attempts to negotiate a peace and an end to the civil war failed
After ruling out a large-scale invasion to rescue Chiang’s retreating forces, the U.S. decided to give the Nationalist government $400 million in aid
80% of this aid ended up in the hands of Mao’s Communists because of corruption and the eventual collapse of the Chiang’s Nationalist government
China
End of 1949- all of mainland China was under Communist control
Chiang and his Nationalists found refuge on the small island of Formosa (Taiwan) where they established their own government
The U.S. continued to support Chiang and did not formally recognize Chairman Mao’s regime (The People’s Republic of China) until thirty years later in 1979
Philippines
July 4, 1946- Philippines became an independent republic, but the U.S. retained important naval and air bases there throughout the Cold War
The Korean War
After the defeat of Japan, its former colony Korea was divided at the 38th parallel by the victors– Soviets in the North and the U.S. in the South
By 1949, both countries withdrew leaving the North in the hands of the Communists led by Kim Il Sung and the South under the control of the conservative Nationalists led by Syngman Rhee
The Korean War– Invasion June 25, 1950– North Korean army launches a
surprise invasion of South Korea
Truman calls a special session of the U.N. Security Council Authorized a U.N. force to defend South Korea, led by
General MacArthur Other countries participated, but mostly U.S. troops
were sent to help the South Korean army
Congress supported the use of troops, but did not formally declare war– accepted Truman’s explanation that U.S. intervention was a “police action” for containment
The Korean War– Counterattack At first, the North Koreans
were winning and pushed the South Korean/American forces to the southern tip of the peninsula
MacArthur launched a brilliant amphibious assault at Inchon behind North Korean lines U.N. forces proceeded to
wipe out much of the North Korean army and advance almost as far as China
The Korean War– Counterattack MacArthur ignored China’s warnings
that it would resist threats to its security
November 1950: masses of Chinese troops crossed into Korea and overwhelmed U.N. forces in one of the worst defeats in U.S. military history
Drove the U.S. out of North Korea
The Korean War– Truman vs. MacArthur
MacArthur managed to stabilize fighting around the 38th Parallel
Called for an expanded war: Bombing and invasion of
mainland China
Truman cautioned MacArthur about his statements, especially if they seemed to criticize official policy
The Korean War—Truman vs. MacArthur
MacArthur spoke out anyway and was recalled for insubordination in April 1951 Returned home to a hero’s
welcome
His message that “There is no substitute for victory” was better received than Truman’s policies of containment and “limited war”
Truman was criticized for not doing enough to destroy Communism in Asia
The Korean War– Armistice As the war dragged on,
the fighting was stalemated along a front just north of the 38th Parallel
Peace talks began in 1951 and dragged on until an armistice was signed in 1953 during the first year of Eisenhower’s presidency
Before the fighting had ended, 54,000 Americans had died in Korea
The Korean War– Political Consequences
TRUMAN AND THE DEMOCRATS
In one perspective, Truman’s containment policy in Korea was a success Stopped Communist aggression
against South Korea Prevented the conflict from
developing into a world war
Truman administration used the Korean War as justification for expanding the military, funding the new B-52 jet bomber, as well as stationing more U.S. troops in overseas bases
REPUBLICANS
Republicans were far from satisfied; criticized Truman and the Democrats for being “too soft on Communism” Stalemate in Korea Military defeat to China
Question?
What do you think? Were Truman’s containment policies successful in Korea or did we essentially lose the Korean War to Communism?