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Korean War
Korea got divided into north and south Korea after World War II. North Korea then was ruled by Kim II Sung, which became a communist ally of the Soviet Union. In the South Korea, the United States backed the dictatorial but non communist leader, Syngman Rhee. Early 1950, Kim II Sung called for a “heroic struggle” to reunite Korea. North Korean troops attacked in June 1950 and soon overran most of the south. -
Korean War
By November, United Nations forces had advanced north to the Yalu River, along the border of China. Mao Zedong sent hundreds of thousands of Chinese troops to help the North Koreans. They forced United Nations troops back to the south of the 38th parallel. This war turned to stalemate. Finally, in 1953, both sides signed an armistice. The armistice held for the rest of the old War, but no peace treaty was ever negotiated. -
Korean War
The United States then organized a United Nation force to help South Korea. The United Nations forces stopped them in August along a line known as the Pusan Perimeter. In September 1950, United Nations troops landed on the beaches around the port of Inch’on, behind enemy lines. These U.S troops quickly captured Korea’s north-south rail lines and cut off North Korean troops from their supply of food and ammunition. -
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Vietnam War
pictureWestern and communist powers agreed to a temporary division of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh remained determined to unite Vietnam under communist rule. He continued to aid the Nation Liberation Front, or Viet Cong, the communist rebels trying to overthrow South Vietnam’s government. United states sent thousands of troops turning a local struggle into a major Cold War conflict. August 1, 1964, South Vietnamese commandos conducted raids on North Vietnamese islands in the Gulf of Tonkin. -
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Vietnam War
pictureU.S. President Johnson reported the attacks to Congress without mentioning the South Vietnamese raids. Believing that the attacks had een unprovoked, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin resolution on August 7, 1964. This let the President to take all necessary measures to prevent further aggression. After the resolution passed, the United States began bombing targets in North Vietnam. More then 500,000 American troops were committed to the war. -
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Vietnam War
pictureSoviet Union and China sent aid but no troops to the help North Vietnam. In 1968, guerrilla forces came out of the jungles and attacked American and South Vietnamese forces in cities all across the south. The assault was unexpected because it took place during Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. The communist lost many of their best troops. In the end, American leaders decided that they had to get out of Vietnam. The United States agreed to withdraw its troops. The North Vietnam won the war.
