THE KOREAN WAR• 1950-1953: Known as the “Forgotten

War”

THE KOREAN WAR• 1948: Korea was split into North

(communist) and South (Republic of Korea) at the 38th Parallel

Kim Il SungLeader of North Korea

Syngman RheeLeader of South Korea

THE KOREAN WAR• 1950- North Korea, backed by

communist China, easily pushes into South Korea

• Domino Theory- idea that if one country becomes communist then countries nearby would also fall to communism

THE KOREAN WAR• The U.S., following the Truman Doctrine

and the Domino theory, stepped in to back up South Korea

• U.S. forces, backed by General Douglas MacArthur drive N.K. backalmost to China

THE KOREAN WAR• China gets worried and sends large

amount of troops to push back into South Korea

• U.S. sends reinforcements and pushes back to the 38th Parallel

THE KOREAN WAR• 1953- U.S./S.K. agree to truce with

China/N.K. after U.S. begins talk of using nuclear bomb

• Korea still divided into two countries at the 38th Parallel

THE KOREAN WAR• Was the war a success or failure? Why?

Korean War- Facts

Up to 5 million dead, wounded, or missing, and half of them civilians.

There are still more than 7,000 U.S. soldier missing in action from the war.

Korean War- Facts

First “MASH” (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) units. Their aim was to be closer to the combat zones to save more soldiers’ lives.

Korean War- Facts

The military finally became racially integrated during WWII (blacks & whites served in mixed units, not separately).

Korean War- Facts

The Korean War never ended (was never officially a U.S. war either). Both sides just agreed to a ceasefire until negotiations could be reached, to this day that has not happened