The Soviet Union and the United States divided Korea following World War II, and established governments favorable to their own particular economic, political, and diplomatic interests: the Soviet related Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea in the north, and the U.S. allied Republic of Korea in the south.
The Korean Conflict, so-called because it never entailed an official declaration of war by the United States government, began in 1950 when North Korea invaded
South Korea. The war was one illustration of the mounting tensions between Soviets and Americans during the Cold War.
The Truman Doctrine, developed by Harry Truman and his foreign policy advisors following World War II, dedicated the United States military to preventing the spread of communism throughout the world. When North Korea invaded South Korea with the clear agenda of uniting the peninsula under a singular communist government, the United States reacted by sending troops as part of a United Nations coalition to push North Korea back to the 38th parallel (a line of latitude marking the border between North and South Korea).
The UN coalition forces suffered many early defeats that resulted in their retreat to the southernmost corner of the Korean peninsula. However, the coalition troops soon rallied with the help of American Air Force attacks on strategic North Korean locations and a bold assault at
Inchon by General MacArthur. Soon, the US-led forces had pushed the North Korean army back to the 38th parallel – and then kept going, pushing the northern army almost to the
Chinese border. It appeared that Communism might be defeated on the peninsula.

At this point, however, China decided to join the war on the side of the North Koreans, and the entrance of 400,000 Chinese soldiers created a formidable opponent to the US-led coalition army. In no time, American troops were once again forced below the 38th Parallel. General
MacArthur wanted to escalate the war and destroy Communism in the area for good. He wanted to bomb the Chinese mainland and blockade their coast.
President Truman disagreed. He feared escalation of the conflict could lead to World
War III, especially if the now nuclear-armed
Soviet Union lent assistance to China.
Disgruntled, Gen. MacArthur took his case directly to the American people by openly criticizing Truman's approach. Truman promptly fired him for insubordination.
All of this action had only taken a few months in 1950, but at this point, the war evolved into a stalemate, with the front line corresponding more or less to the 38th
Parallel. Ceasefire negotiations dragged on for two more years, beyond Truman's
Presidency. Finally, on July 27, 1953, an armistice (cease-fire) was signed. North
Korea remained a communist dictatorship, and South Korea remained under the control of Syngman Rhee, a Western-backed military strong man. Over 53,000
Americans were killed in the conflict.
1.Which side would you say “won” the
Korean War? Why?
2. Was Truman’s policy of containment successful here? Why or why not?