The Vietnam War: The First Korean War

The Korean War was a defining part of the United States foreign policy in the Cold War Era and was a response to threats from the Soviet Union. The Korean War was a culmination of tensions between North and South Korea that had resulted from the influences the United States and the Soviet Union inculcated into the countries during their occupation. When the Korean War was initiated, by the invasion of South Korea by North Korea, the United States and their allies in the United Nations perceived the invasion as a bold communistic expansion effort that occurred without provocation. (Document A). Further validating this idea was the fact that the attack was endorsed by the USSR, and partially lead by Red China, both of which were communist countries

Another factor for the US becoming militarily involved in Korea was the US domestic policies. US ideology was highlighted in NCS 68 which said ‘the assault on free institutions is worldwide now,’ and ‘a defeat of free institutions anywhere is a defeat of everywhere,’ therefore they felt it was their duty to stand against communism. However, NSC 68 also says ‘half measures will be…more dangerous,’ in reference to the 1930’s. Truman feels guilt over not getting involved in the British policy of appeasement against the Nazi’s in Europe, which led to WW2. In his memoirs he wrote ‘democracies failed to act it encouraged the aggressors to keep going.’ However, as this was written in his memoirs, it is written in hind sight, therefore will not be completely accurate. Furthermore, in 1949, Spy Trials were hosted in the US, when scientists and politicians were interrogated by HUAAC, the House of Un-American Activities Committee, and found to be giving nuclear research to Russia. This included Klaus Fuchs, a member of the Manhattan Project. As well as this, the US lost their nuclear monopoly when Russia successfully exploded their first Atomic Bomb, several years before expected, and China became communist. This led to the fear of more spies within the US government, and Truman was accused of ‘losing China’

Alot of good things came out of this ,some may say that we lost this war because of communism staying in North Korea after us leaving.However after America leaving leaving the war and it ending in 1953, communism did not spread to South Korea and that's what ¨containment¨ was, for the U.S. this was a very document that the U.S. stresses this alot and this was to contain communism from spreading to wherever it did not exist already. Not stopping North Korea from taking over South Korea would be leading it spread, so the U.S. was obligated to go and help South

While World War II ended all worries and hardships Americans faced, events gradually initiated signs of the Cold War which created an increased state of tension that swept all of America and Korea. During the 1940s, the potential Communist invasion of nations worldwide began to create a frightening reality to the people of the United States. The Soviet Union’s exportation of Communism greatly worried America as they wanted to contain Communism from all nations, especially nations in Asia. The Korean peninsula divided into two territories: a north, Soviet supported government, and a south, American supported government, a separation as a result of World War II. The Soviet Union invaded Korea, which had been under Japanese control since 1900; fearing the Soviet’s intention to seize the entire peninsula, the United States responded by quickly sending in their troops to South Korea. Truman’s decision to become involved in conflicts in Korea grew out of the Soviet Union’s radical actions, events in Asia, and internal criticism in the Truman Administration in America, providing him with an opportunity to defend a nation from a communist invasion.

Both the Korean War (and the Vietnam War played significant roles in of the Cold War. The Korean War related more to the causes and development of the Cold War, whereas the Vietnam War’s role was more focused on the later development and beginning the end of Cold War.

Although many believe the world would be a better place if everyone were to get along and agree on social differences, but in the end these differences are the root cause of many wars. These two major wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, not only had serious impact within the country, but also give a prime example of how similar and different between the two. Both wars were commenced similarly from its conflict with expansion of a communist government and the involvement of the United States. Differences came from the involvement of the United Nation and the outcome of both wars.

Over the course of the 1950s, no event captured the tension of the infamous Cold War more than the Korean War. Fought to prevent the spread of communism in Korea, the Korean War was a bold political victory for the United States because America sent a clear message to the entire world, as it was the first military action of the Cold War, that the spread of communism will not be tolerated by the strongest military in the world, the United States. In addition, the Korean War was an economic benefit for the United States due to the increase of military spending and preserved the freedom of the South Korean people. However, the Korean War is often labeled as the “forgotten war” due to the failure of the United States to eliminate communism in

Kim Il Sung's heavily armed and well-trained North Korean army crossed the 38th parallel -- the border between the two Koreas at the end of World War II.

The United States had just ended World War II, and the conflict in Korea had

The Chinese were allies of North Korea and honestly, caught us by surprise. In turn, we had to retreat. I immediately went to the incompetent President Truman who denied by request expand the war to China. I felt that we must bring the fight to them in order to successfully defeat China as a whole. Truman then told me to keep my opinions to myself which is absurd considering I am the person keeping his name and his country safe.

Even though Douglas MacArthur had a well thought out plan to end the Korean War, Harry S. Truman’s was far superior.Throughout the Korean war, there were two sides to finding a solution. First, General Douglas MacArthur believed the best way to defeat communism in Asia would be to wage full on war. Not only did he want to attack Korea, but move on to China. However, Truman strongly disagreed with this argument. In a document, President Truman states, “We do not want see the conflict in Korea extended. We are trying to prevent a world war--not to start one”(Truman 1). Clearly, Truman knew what disastrous consequences could come of a third world war. His plan was tp limit the war in Korea. Truman went so far as to criticize MacArthur's plan.

The Korean War was started June 25, 1950, at 38 degree line throughout the total offensive of the North Korean army. North Korea removed zone mines from the 38 degree line before the start of the attack. The personal wear of all soldiers were lightly equipped. The initial fight was intended to blitzing into the South Korea. United Nations Security Council defined the act as an invasion and determined to put the military sanctions against the North Korea.

According to Robert, without Korean War there would be a huge difference in the world’s history. In addition to that Robert also stated “the Korean war shaped the course of the cold war by both resolving the incoherence which characterized U.S. foreign and defense efforts in the period 1946-1950 and establishing important new lines of policy”(1980). The Korean War led to the changes of policy through three processes in changes on the domestic political situation, defense budget and NATO. The domestic policy changes let the leader of the country to do whatever they wanted to do before (Robert,

On June 25, 1950, the Korean War began when 75,000 North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) troops moved across the 38th parallel. Later that same day the United Nations demanded that North Korea withdrawal its forces and return to its borders. Kim Il Sung disregarded this and ordered his troops to press forward and by June 29, 1950, the capital of south Korean fell to the NKPA.

The Korean War was a trying time for America. The nation was getting involved in a war that had little or no possibility of a fortunate outcome. The Korean people were divided among how the country should be run. A uniform system of government looked like it may never come to be. In order to protect one of its vital interests as well as to prove to the rest of the world that America didn’t stand for communism, the United States began taking up arms. The war would prove a most difficult task to achieve successfully. In fact, it was almost impossible to continue fighting what seemed to be far from a worthy sacrifice of American lives.