THE COLD WAR:Communism Spreads Into Asia

Domino Theory

• Idea that if a nation falls to communism, nearby nations will also fall to communism

The Forgotten War: Korean War

• End of WWII

• North Korea–Occupied by Soviet Union– Communist

• South Korea–Occupied by United States–Non-Communist

38th PARALLEL

Korean War Begins

• 1950, North Koreans invaded South Korea

• South Korea asked the United States and the United Nations for help

• US helps out under General MacArthur

Then…

• UN forces push N. Korea across the 38th Parallel

• Neared China…• So the CHINESE army

joined North Korean forces

• Why are they helping N. Korea?

Results?

• A cease-fire agreement was signed in July, 1953

• More than 2.5 million people were dead

• GET THIS:• The border between the

two Koreas was still drawn at the 38th Parallel!

38th PARALLEL

The Vietnam War

Background• 1900s – France controlled

Vietnam• Nationalist Leader Ho Chi

Minh asked for communist help

• France then fought the combined Nationalist and Communist forces

• United States supported France

• French surrendered to Ho Chi Minh

Division• Peace Conference• Vietnam was divided at 17th

parallel• North – Communism• South – anti-Communist• Sound familiar?

• Problems…– There are communist guerillas in

the South

Fighting• Vietcong – communist

guerillas in the South

• Should the United States help out?– 2 US boats were attacked

• By 1968 – – ½ a million American

soldiers

The War

• US had most advanced military in the world

• Problems:– Guerrilla war in unfamiliar

jungle territory– South Vietnamese gov’t

became unpopular– Unpopular in the US

Result• US troops gradually pulled out– Last left in 1973

• 1.5 million Vietnamese dead• 58,000 Americans dead• Saigon capital became:– “Ho Chi Minh City”

• Communist today• However, trade is welcomed

there