Beyond War World IIIntro to Korean and Vietnam War

Who was on each side?

Axis Powers• Germany• Italy • Japan

Allied Powers• Great Britain• Soviet Union• United States• France– Surrendered to Germany

in 1940 after 6 weeks

What was WWII?

• Largest war in human history. • Involved countries, colonies, and territories

around the entire world. • By the end, over 70 million were dead. • It lasted from 1939 until 1945.

Losses of the Major Wartime Powers in WWII, 1939-1945

• Germany– 4.5 million military– 2 million civilian

• Japan– 2 million military– 350,000 civilians

• Italy– 400,000 military– 100,000 civilian

• China– 2.5 million military– 7.4 million civilians

• USSR– 10 million military– 10 million civilians

• Great Britain– 300,000 military– 50,000 civilians

• France– 250,000 military– 350,000 civilian

• United States– 274,000 military

Two World Powers Emerge

• United States • Soviet Union (modern day Russia)

Economic Views

• United States– Capitalism – an economic

system based on private ownership and on the investment of money in business ventures in order to make a profit.

– Businesses compete with each other for the consumer’s money.

• Soviet Union (modern day Russia)

– Communism- An economic system that believes that property is commonly owned by the public or government as opposed to private ownership.

Understanding COMMUNISM

• Everyone is treated equally by the government.

• Personal rights and freedoms are reduced, as the government tells people what they can and cannot do.

• Everyone has a job and is paid about the same amount of money.

Communism

• Seeks to establish a classless society (no rich/poor)

• Common ownership of land, farms, factories (no private property)

• Government regulates society to be “equal”

• Stalin’s Communism was not for the people, but for power (Not Marx’s vision)

Why does this matter?

• USSR political and economic influence dramatically increases after World War II

• They established themselves as a World Power

• And many countries around the world are rebuilding themselves after the War. Will they be a communists or capitalists country?

Communists or Capitalist?

• Initially, it’s based on location, location, location

Communists or Capitalist?

• Initially, its based on location, location, location

U.S. Response to Communism

Korean War (Background)

• During the 19th century, Imperial Japan began an occupation of the Korean Peninsula which lasted until the end of WW II.

• At the close of World War II, forces of both the Soviet Union and the United States occupied the Korean peninsula.

Korea - 1945• The Soviets imposed a

communist government on North Korea, resulting in the formation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in 1948,

• The U.S. imposed a nationalist/capitalist democracy on South Korea, resulting in the formation of the Republic of Korea in 1948.

Post-War Plans…• Initially, it was the intention of

both sides to establish a stable and unified Korea in order to withdraw their military forces from the area.

• However, neither the Soviet Union or the U.S. wanted the peninsula to fall into the other's hand.

• The division of Korea that ensued set the stage for a civil war.

North Korea attacks • 1st Phase of Conflict

– June 25, 1950• North Korea launches a

surprise attack against South Korea triggering the Korean War.

• By the night of June 28, Seoul (capital of South Korea) had fallen and the South Korean forces were in disarray.

Why does U.S. Care?

Stalemate

• Inflicting heavy casualties on the Chinese and North Koreans, the U.N. re-recaptured Seoul.

• The Korean War ends, when an armistice was signed on July 27, 1953.

• The armistice was only ever intended as a temporary measure and provided for:• A fixed demarcation line with a four

kilometer (2.4 mile) buffer zone - the so-called demilitarization zone

Vietnam War (Background)• After WWII the French wanted

to regain control over Indochinese peninsula (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand)

• USA had been supplying Ho Chi Minh against Japanese—at end of WWII Ho Chi Minh declares independence for Vietnam, but France with British aid send in a military force to re-establish French rule

• Originally- U.S. did not want to help France regain control…. But U.S was concerned about the following:

– Soviet threat in Europe

– Mao Zedong in China– Korean War

Vietnam’s Leader

Ngo Dihn Diem – “placed” into office by the United States and supported by France.•Corrupt government that suppressed opposition of any kind.•Offered little or no land distribution to peasants.•He is also Catholic, most Vietnamese are Buddhists

Ho Chi Minh – leader of the North, supported by China and USSR – but also many in South Vietnam look to him for leadership•Hero because he broke up large estates and redistributed land to the peasants.•He had beaten the French

Spring 1954: knock out blow—The Battle of Dien Bien Phu

• 10,000 French troops were surrounded, cut off in Northern Vietnam

• France is defeated and the Geneva Conference tried to restore peace

Geneva Conference lead to the following:• Northern Vietnamese

leader (communists) Ho Chi Minh was sure to win election of the country so the USA got involved covertly

• CIA supported Ngo Dinh Diem in the south

AgreementParis peace accords on January 23th, 27th, 1973 : 7 main points

– 3 signatures – Withdrawal of troops

Return of captured military personnel and foreign civilians

Exercise of the south Vietnamesepeople’s right to self determination

Reunification of Vietnam International commission of control and supervision

End of all military activities in Cambodia and LaosEstablishment of a new equal and mutually beneficial relationship between the United-States and the democratic republic of Vietnam.