Chapter 18 Section 2
The Cold War Heats Up
Civil War in China
• During WWII- A
Japanese invasion
interrupted a long
Chinese Civil War
• Communists vs.
Nationalists
Civil War in China
• US begins aiding
Nationalists during
WWII
Civil War in China
• US military officials
didn’t like Chiang
• Found his govmt
dictatorial, inefficient,
and hopelessly
corrupt
Civil War in China
• collected a grain tax
from farmers during a
famine
Civil War in China
• Communists skillful in
winning support of the
peasants
Fighting Breaks Out
• As soon as Japanese
left China-civil war
resumed
Fighting Breaks Out
• Truman refused to
commit American
soldiers
Fighting Breaks Out
• Nationalist problems:
Fighting Breaks Out
• May 1949-
America Reacts to Communist
Takeover
• American public
stunned
• Containment failed
America Reacts to Communist
Takeover
• State Department
said the only way to
help the Nationalists
was to go to war
• A war the US wasn’t
prepared to fight
– Most people accepted
this reasoning
– Some rejected it as
lame excuses
America Reacts to Communist
Takeover
• Many claimed the US
“lost” China
Koreans go to War
• Japan ruled Korea
until 1945
Koreans go to War
• 38th parallel not
intended as a
permanent boundary
• 2 different nations
emerged-one
communist, one not
Koreans go to War
• North becomes
Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea
• Headed by Kim Il
Sung
North Korea Attacks South Korea
• June 25, 1950 North
invades South-Begins
Korean War
North Korea Attacks South Korea
• June 27, 1950-UN
pledges to help South
Korea
US Fights in Korea
• NK unstoppable at 1st
MacArthur’s Counterattack
• MacArthur launches
counterattack
• Sept 15, 1950 UN
troops land at Inchon
MacArthur’s Counterattack
• Many NK troops
surrendered
• Many fled back
behind 38th parallel
MacArthur’s Counterattack
• China warned that
they would not stand
by and let the
Americans come to
the border-the Yalu
River
The Chinese Fight Back
• 11/25/1950- 300,000
Chinese move into
NK
MacArthur Recommends Attacking China
• Calls for extension of
war into China-to end
the stalemate
• Blockade Chinese
coast
MacArthur Recommends Attacking
China
• Truman rejects
MacArthur’s request
• Didn’t want US
involved in a massive
land war in Asia
MacArthur Recommends Attacking
China
• Instead of attacking
China – UN forces
advance against
Korean forces
Settling for a Stalemate
• Soviets suggest a cease-fire on June 23,
1951
• Truce talks began in July 1951
Settling for a Stalemate
• By following Spring,
opposing sides
agreed on 2 points:
Settling for a Stalemate
• July 1953- two sides
sign an armistice
ending the war
American Victory?
• Communism
contained without a
world war
• No use of atomic
weapons
– Although the threat of
using them helped
break a negotiation
deadlock
Communist Victory?
• North
Korea still
communist
Effects of Korean War
• 54,000 Americans killed
• Cost between $20 and
$22 billion