Korean War- Korea invaded and ruled by Japan from 1910-1945
After WWII Korea was split into two
United Nations held an election in 1948
Stalin refused to allow Soviet territory in Korea to participate
North Korea communist
North Korea invades South Korea
1950- North Korea captures most of South Korea but United Nations comes in and pushes North Korea all the way back to Chinese border. China invades and pushes UN troops back
Stalin and Mao support Kim's invasion of South Korea
Pusan Perimeter- South Korea's only territory after North Korea invades
General Douglass McCarthur
UN massively destroyed North Korea
North Korea is still struggling today
North Korean leaders: Kim Il Sung(ruled 1948-1994), Kim Jong Il(ruled 1994-2011) under him when they acquired nuclear weapons, Kim Jong Un(2011-present) very aggressive; killed uncle
2002- North Korea claims to be working on Nuclear Weapons
Six Party Talks- try to work out a plan to get North Korea to dismantle Nuclear Programs (US, SK, NK, China, Russia and Japan)
2006- North Korea detonated first nuclear weapon
2008- North Korea taken off terrorist list
2009- relations turn for the worst again
Vietnam-
Geneva Conference(1954)
Ho Chi Minh
Escalation
Viet Cong
Guerilla Warfare
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
President Lyndon Johnson
General William Westmoreland
Tet Offensive
Pentagon Papers
Operation Rolling Thunder
Ho Chi Minh Trial
Agent Orange
Napalm
My Lai Massacre
Vietnam War Protesters
Kent St. University Protest/Massacre
President Richard Nixon
Vietnamization
Paris Peace Accords(1973)
The French Connection- French had control of Indochina
France worked with Japan to keep control, but after WWII France tried to take control again but failed against Communist Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh wins independence and Vietnam is created
Geneva Conference- Vietnam split at 17 parallel line into Communist North and Democratic South
set up elections to unify country but they never took place and the country was still split
very similar to Korea
Viet Cong- Guerrilla Communists in the South
Guerrilla warfare- attack and retreat
People's Army of Viet Nam(PAVN)- North Vietnamese army
Difficult to define soldiers- dressed as civilian peasants
Escalation:
Truman sends money to help France who ended up losing
Eisenhower continued supporting South Vietnam by sending military advisors to help train troops for fighting
Kennedy continued sending advisors but also sent in spec. ops. Green Berets especially
Johnson sent more combat forces. Sent troops over by the thousands
Nixon promised to pull out of war. Started pulling troops out but started bombing Laos and Cambodia
Gulf of Tonkin- American ship attacked by North Vietnamese torpedoes
Congress gave Johnson the power to wage war
Johnson defeated Barry Goldwater by a massive blowout in election of 1964. 61%
Johnson and General William Westmoreland kept saying that with more troops we will win the war
Jan 30, 1968- Tet offensive: Gigantic offensive attack on nearly every major South Vietnamese city by the Viet Cong
After this, the American public lost faith in the war efforts
Pentagon Papers- leaked to the New York Times and published in 1970. Gave public proof that the government was lying and misleading them
Nixon put together the Plumbers to stop press leaks
Operation Rolling Thunder- non-stop bombing raids in North Vietnam by US. We didn't want to invade. Failed, North did not surrender
Anti-War:
1) Tet offensive
2) Pentagon Papers
3) Injuring/killing innocent people
4) Support of a bad government in the South
5) Power of the press
6) Nixon's promise to end war, but bombing Laos and Cambodia
7) Questioned why we were over there
"Hanoi Jane" Fonda and John Kerry
My Lai Massacre March (1969)- US soldiers killed 504 Vietnamese citizens. Women were raped, bodies were mutilated
Kent St.(1970)- students were protesting and a lot of commotion happened ending with Nation Guard soldiers killing students
Getting out of serving:
1) Went to Canada
2) Went ti college
3) Got married
4) Medically unfit
5) Joined National Guard, Coast Guard, or Peace Corps
6) Claimed to be homosexual
7) Legal trouble (criminal acts)
8) Bribing, having wealth
Nixon called for the 'vietnamization' of the war- Gradually pulling troops out of Vietnam and allowing for the Vietnamese to take over war efforts
Nixon also expanded the war into Laos and Cambodia leading to college protests(Kent St.)
Jan. 27, 1973- Paris Peace Accords: officially ended US involvement in the Vietnam conflict
-Fighting stopped
-US would pull out of Vietnam
-North and South Vietnam would recognize each other
Peace agreement did not last- March, 1975 North invaded South
July 2, 1976- Socialist Republic of Vietnam formed by North taking over South to Communism
War Powers Act(1973)- Limits power of US President to wage war without approval of Congress, President can send troops places without congressional support for 60 days
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