To What Extent Was the Korean War Both a Military and Political Success for the Usa

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The Korean War had shattering consequences for the people of North and South Korea. To the USA and other countries, the Korean War was a ‘limited war’ whereas to the Koreans, it was a total war. Around 10% of the whole population of Korea were reported dead, injured or missing. An estimated 60,000 homes were destroyed and 8700 plants knocked out. The Republic of Korea Army lost 415,000 to death and 429,000 were badly wounded. Syngman Rhee and Kim Il Sung tried to rejoin the North and South of Korea however it remained divided. This war was both a military and political success to the USA to a small extent due to their large economic loss and death of many of their soldiers for a war that nobody won as they only signed a cease fire agreement instead of a peace treaty. The cost of the war for the USA was a lot less than those for Korea and China, however was still a huge annoyance for them. 33,651 American soldiers died during combat and 103,284 were injured. Their overall military expenses went from being 4% of GNP to a greater 14% from 1948 to 1953. The USA also suffered military setback in December 1950 where they had to draw back 300 miles in the face of Chinese soldiers which would have been incredibly humiliating for them considering their confidence at the start of the war. Because of all of these financial and military struggles, the Korean War would have been a disaster instead of a success for the USA. The war encouraged anti communist paranoia throughout the late 1940’s. Senator Joseph McCarthy kept getting stronger from 1950 to 1951, having hidden plans that were leading towards the White House. Under Acheson, the State Department was a huge target, and so was Truman’s new secretary of defence, General Marshall. Not many real spies or undercover communists were ever found out, however McCarthy was now, in American politics, feared as he was
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