America Enters the Korean War
Following the end of World War II, the last of America’s military forces left Korea, indicating
that Korea lay outside the main U.S. Defense line in Asia. By that time, Korea had been divided
at the 38th parallel line of latitude with the U.S. occupying the South and the Soviet Union
occupying the North. Soon after the American troops left the country, on June 25, 1950, the
troops of Communist ruled North Korea invaded South Korea ("Korea,South." 375~379). China,
Korea’s neighbor and Communist ruled under Chairman Mao, had a strong alliance with the
Soviet Union, another Communist super power ("Teaching With Documents: The United States
Enters the Korean Conflict."). The rise of two strong communist nations ---China and the USSR,
made America genuinely fearful that they intended to expand the sphere of communism
throughout Asia. As such, the Truman administration faced increasing domestic pressure not to
appear "soft" on communism abroad. The morning of the June 27th, 1950, President Truman
met with members of the foreign affairs and foreign relations committees of Congress and,
shortly after, the public statement was released to newspaper reporters. That afternoon,
President Truman attended another meeting of the United Nations to propose a resolution
urging all members of the UN to give assistance to South Korea ("Teaching With Documents:
The United States Enters the Korean Conflict.").
that Korea lay outside the main U.S. Defense line in Asia. By that time, Korea had been divided
at the 38th parallel line of latitude with the U.S. occupying the South and the Soviet Union
occupying the North. Soon after the American troops left the country, on June 25, 1950, the
troops of Communist ruled North Korea invaded South Korea ("Korea,South." 375~379). China,
Korea’s neighbor and Communist ruled under Chairman Mao, had a strong alliance with the
Soviet Union, another Communist super power ("Teaching With Documents: The United States
Enters the Korean Conflict."). The rise of two strong communist nations ---China and the USSR,
made America genuinely fearful that they intended to expand the sphere of communism
throughout Asia. As such, the Truman administration faced increasing domestic pressure not to
appear "soft" on communism abroad. The morning of the June 27th, 1950, President Truman
met with members of the foreign affairs and foreign relations committees of Congress and,
shortly after, the public statement was released to newspaper reporters. That afternoon,
President Truman attended another meeting of the United Nations to propose a resolution
urging all members of the UN to give assistance to South Korea ("Teaching With Documents:
The United States Enters the Korean Conflict.").
“The attack upon Korea makes it plain beyond all
doubt that communism has passed beyond the use
of subversion to conquer independent nations and
will now use armed invasion and war. It has defied
the orders of the Security Council of the United
Nations issued to preserve international peace and
security ... I am calling upon the Chinese Government
on Formosa to cease all air and sea operations
against the mainland ... I have also directed that
United States Forces in the Philippines be strengthened
and that military assistance to the Philippine Government be accelerated. I have similarly
directed acceleration in the furnishing of military assistance to the forces of France and the
Associated States in Indochina and the dispatch of a military mission to provide dose
working relations with those forces. I know that all members of the United Nations will
consider carefully the consequences of this latest aggression in Korea in defiance of the
Charter of the United Nations. A return to the rule of force in international affairs would have
far-reaching effects. The United States will continue to uphold the rule of law.”
(Woolley and Peters)
doubt that communism has passed beyond the use
of subversion to conquer independent nations and
will now use armed invasion and war. It has defied
the orders of the Security Council of the United
Nations issued to preserve international peace and
security ... I am calling upon the Chinese Government
on Formosa to cease all air and sea operations
against the mainland ... I have also directed that
United States Forces in the Philippines be strengthened
and that military assistance to the Philippine Government be accelerated. I have similarly
directed acceleration in the furnishing of military assistance to the forces of France and the
Associated States in Indochina and the dispatch of a military mission to provide dose
working relations with those forces. I know that all members of the United Nations will
consider carefully the consequences of this latest aggression in Korea in defiance of the
Charter of the United Nations. A return to the rule of force in international affairs would have
far-reaching effects. The United States will continue to uphold the rule of law.”
(Woolley and Peters)
The Council voted 9-0 to approve a resolution that demanded the immediate cessation of
hostilities, ordered North Korea to withdraw forthwith their armed forces to the 38th parallel, and
advised its members to render every assistance to the UN in the execution of this resolution and
to refrain from giving assistance to the North Korea authorities (Uschan 40-69). General
Douglas MacArthur flew to South Korean headquarters at Suwon on June 29, 1950, to lead the
UN troops fighting in Korea (SparkNotes Editors). President Truman announced the goal of
this action is to unify an anti-Communist Korea. He warned the General to leave it a “limited
war”, keep U.S. troops away from the Chinese border and not to bomb near the Yalu River (Uschan 40-69). Truman declared:
“... The primary objectives of the foreign policy of the
United States is the creation of conditions in which we
and other nations will be able to work out a way of life
free from coercion ... the United States has taken a
leading part in establishing the United Nations ... to
make possible lasting freedom and independence for
all its members ... against aggressive movements that
seek to impose upon them totalitarian regimes ...”
("The Truman Doctrine.")
By December 12, 1950, America had fought in 20 deadly battles, ending in 13,435 casualties (Ecker). In their continued effort to contain Communism in Asia, the intervention of the U.S.
came at a large cost in regard to lives list in battle and the amount of money spent to fund the
military action.
hostilities, ordered North Korea to withdraw forthwith their armed forces to the 38th parallel, and
advised its members to render every assistance to the UN in the execution of this resolution and
to refrain from giving assistance to the North Korea authorities (Uschan 40-69). General
Douglas MacArthur flew to South Korean headquarters at Suwon on June 29, 1950, to lead the
UN troops fighting in Korea (SparkNotes Editors). President Truman announced the goal of
this action is to unify an anti-Communist Korea. He warned the General to leave it a “limited
war”, keep U.S. troops away from the Chinese border and not to bomb near the Yalu River (Uschan 40-69). Truman declared:
“... The primary objectives of the foreign policy of the
United States is the creation of conditions in which we
and other nations will be able to work out a way of life
free from coercion ... the United States has taken a
leading part in establishing the United Nations ... to
make possible lasting freedom and independence for
all its members ... against aggressive movements that
seek to impose upon them totalitarian regimes ...”
("The Truman Doctrine.")
By December 12, 1950, America had fought in 20 deadly battles, ending in 13,435 casualties (Ecker). In their continued effort to contain Communism in Asia, the intervention of the U.S.
came at a large cost in regard to lives list in battle and the amount of money spent to fund the
military action.
Hint: Find and Click on the GREEN WORDS, there's a surprise waiting for you! ^0^