In 1950, the Korean War began as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or North Korea, invaded the Republic of Korea in the south across the 38th parallel. Shortly after the start of the war, American and United Nations (U.N.) troops joined the battle and fought alongside South Korea. Correspondingly, General Douglas MacArthur had been named commander of the U.N. forces by the United Nations Security Council. Both President Harry Truman and General MacArthur acknowledged the significance of the war in regards to communism, as North Korea was communist and the American ideology of capitalism was in opposition against Soviet Russia’s communism. The fate of the Korean War would have a greater impact on conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet
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The largest of which was the potential for the start of the Third World War. During the time of the Korean War, the United States was experiencing the Cold War with the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.). However, there was never direct fighting between the U.S.S.R. and the United States, as most of the fighting was done through proxy wars, the Korean War being one. Also, within the conflict, was the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance, a treaty between China and the Soviet Union. One aspect of the treaty was the declared assistance of the other if "Japan or any state allied with it," were to attack either the Soviet Union or China (Country Studies US). Thus, MacArthur’s ordered attack on the Chinese boarder could have resulted in the assistance of the Soviet Union and a declaration of war against the United States. MacArthur’s more aggressive military tactics against China could have led to a greater war with the Chinese and the Russians. This implication of MacArthur’s planned attack was clearly undesirable to Truman. The higher stakes of wartime strategies vastly differed from the previously peaceful tactics used in Japan. The potential for a larger war was avoided by not enacting MacArthur’s planned attack, but the possibility for it that MacArthur had created led to further wartime conflicts with the president. Furthermore, MacArthur made more statements against President Truman that created political divides domestically in the United States. General MacArthur made frequent statements criticizing Truman for his appeasement of Communism is Asia. This increased the vulnerability of the Truman administration and created further divides between the two. However, many Americans supported General MacArthur and further criticized Truman for his “appeasement”, while others supported Truman in his desire to not extend the
The largest of which was the potential for the start of the Third World War. During the time of the Korean War, the United States was experiencing the Cold War with the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.). However, there was never direct fighting between the U.S.S.R. and the United States, as most of the fighting was done through proxy wars, the Korean War being one. Also, within the conflict, was the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance, a treaty between China and the Soviet Union. One aspect of the treaty was the declared assistance of the other if "Japan or any state allied with it," were to attack either the Soviet Union or China (Country Studies US). Thus, MacArthur’s ordered attack on the Chinese boarder could have resulted in the assistance of the Soviet Union and a declaration of war against the United States. MacArthur’s more aggressive military tactics against China could have led to a greater war with the Chinese and the Russians. This implication of MacArthur’s planned attack was clearly undesirable to Truman. The higher stakes of wartime strategies vastly differed from the previously peaceful tactics used in Japan. The potential for a larger war was avoided by not enacting MacArthur’s planned attack, but the possibility for it that MacArthur had created led to further wartime conflicts with the president. Furthermore, MacArthur made more statements against President Truman that created political divides domestically in the United States. General MacArthur made frequent statements criticizing Truman for his appeasement of Communism is Asia. This increased the vulnerability of the Truman administration and created further divides between the two. However, many Americans supported General MacArthur and further criticized Truman for his “appeasement”, while others supported Truman in his desire to not extend the