Summary of the War
On June 25th, 1950, the Korean war began when over 75,000 soldiers from North Korea (backed by Soviets) attacked the South Koreans (backed by America). This was considered the very beginning of the Cold War.
As the North Korean army pushed its way into Seoul, the U.S prepared themselves for a war against communism itself. By July, the American troops had entered the war, protecting the South. At first for the U.S, the war was aimed to get the communists out of South Korea. But then Truman and MacArthur aimed to liberate the North from the communists. The Korean War was the first "limited war," in which the United States did not try to completely defeat the enemy, they just aimed to protect South Korea. This was necessary in order to prevent a third world war.
As the war went on, China joined the war because of conflicts with the North Korea-China border. Mao Zedong the Chinese dictator, sent troops into North Korea and warned the U.S to stay away from the Yalu border, unless they wanted a full scale war. President Truman wanted to prevent the war against China.
In July, 1951, Truman started to talk about peace talks in Panmunjom. Still the fighting continued. Both sides then wanted to accept a ceasefire to maintain the 38th boundary, but they could not agree on what to do with the prisoners of war. After two more years of negotiations, they signed an armistice on July 27th, 1953. This allowed to prisoners to stay where they liked, and created a demilitarized zone on the parallel.
As the North Korean army pushed its way into Seoul, the U.S prepared themselves for a war against communism itself. By July, the American troops had entered the war, protecting the South. At first for the U.S, the war was aimed to get the communists out of South Korea. But then Truman and MacArthur aimed to liberate the North from the communists. The Korean War was the first "limited war," in which the United States did not try to completely defeat the enemy, they just aimed to protect South Korea. This was necessary in order to prevent a third world war.
As the war went on, China joined the war because of conflicts with the North Korea-China border. Mao Zedong the Chinese dictator, sent troops into North Korea and warned the U.S to stay away from the Yalu border, unless they wanted a full scale war. President Truman wanted to prevent the war against China.
In July, 1951, Truman started to talk about peace talks in Panmunjom. Still the fighting continued. Both sides then wanted to accept a ceasefire to maintain the 38th boundary, but they could not agree on what to do with the prisoners of war. After two more years of negotiations, they signed an armistice on July 27th, 1953. This allowed to prisoners to stay where they liked, and created a demilitarized zone on the parallel.