Additionally the conflict in Korea allowed the USA to demonstrate its military capabilities to the world, and help to increase UN credibility. However, despite US concession to accept containment as an accomplishment, North Korea remaining communist can be seen as an American failure. In 1950, the US made the decision to invade North Korea. This switch to rollback policy shows that their goals were higher than just containment. They were defeated by Chinese ‘dragon’ attacks, which in December 1950 caused the most humiliating retreat in US history, totalling 300 miles.
The Korean War was extremely popular domestically because it was part of the Cold War. The Cold War was a result of World War Two, it caused the two ideologies, capitalism and communism to each struggle for control over the Post war world. This is important because America as the leader of the capitalist ideology could not afford to let Korea fall to the North, as they believed that to do so would essentially relinquish control to the communists. America gained UN
Therefore, the US created unconditional terms of surrender, knowingly going against the Japanese ethic of honour and against the institute of the emperor, whom most Americans probably wanted dead. Consequently, the use of the atomic bomb became a way to avenge America's fallen soldiers while also keeping the USSR in check in Europe. The Japanese civilian casualties did not matter in this strategy. Also, it did not prevent the Cold War, as the USSR was just a few years behind on a-bomb research. At the time, revenge, geopolitics and an expensive project that could not be allowed to simply rust away, meant the atomic bomb had to be hastily deployed “in the field” in order to see its power and aftermath – though little was known about radiation and its effects on humans.
How far was the Korean War a military and political success for the USA? The Korean War was an arena of war between the US and the USSR, the extent to which it was a militant success and a political success was minimal. The outcome of the war produced more military success, than political success, the most important reason being that the US was not able to achieve their target of containment of Communism, and hence, could not unify Korea under a capitalist rule. The USA’s military objective was to prevent the DPNK (North Korea) from invading and taking over ROK (South Korea). It can be said that there was significant military success due to the several militant achievements, for example; the US was able to restore ROK to its former state, prior to the invasion by the DPNK.
Although there failure of completely vanquishing the warlords there can be little doubt that Chiang was fairly successful in solving this domestic problem and the effects it would have on the country as it is probably that without him stabilising the political and social unrest civil war would have broken out in the country much early than it did. The GMD was able to successfully implement new and improved transport links throughout the country. The three thousand mile railway track connected North and South which helped Chiang to begin re-unifying the country and the people. However there can be little doubt that the transport was created for sole purpose of the urban rich who were the majority of his supporters and it only aided them to become
The main reason for the USA’s military intervention in the Korean war was that of containment. The American aims was to work with its allies to contain the spread of soviet and communist Chinese power using political, economic and if necessary military pressures. Any failure of containment was potentially disastrous. According to the USA the loss of SK might well lead to a chain reaction leading to the loss of much of the rest of Asia, including Japan. This was called the domino theory.
MacArthur does mention his own over confidence that led to him continually advance closer to the Yalu River provoking a large scale attack from the Chinese. The success of the Inchon landings marked a turning point in the war, the aim changed from containing communism to rolling it back it also marked a large boost in morale during the war. Although MacArthur was working from intelligence suggesting that neither the Chinese nor the Soviets would get involved, he should have been more careful to not provoke the Chinese and should have taken their first attack as a warning. MacArthur also mentions the new aim of Chinese at the end of the source, he claims that their ultimate goal was to completely destroy all UN forces in Korea which is quite accurate; the Chinese pushed US forces all the way back behind the 38th parallel and retook the capital city Seoul. These actions by without a doubt prolonged the war and caused the US to change its goal back to the original aim to maintain the 38th parallel, however was this due to MacArthur’s reckless actions or China’s
The Prague Spring which Czechoslovakia was to invade on was important for the Soviet Union as it was again able to put down a revolution for reforms against the strict communism employed. The Korean War was beneficial to both countries and no ground was obtained in either’s attempt to spread either communism or democracy. The Tet offensive was beneficial to the soviets as North Vietnamese showed that they could fight against the U.S. in open fields and conventional warfare which was the beginning of the end for the U.S. in Vietnam. The bombing of the Ho Chi Minh Trail was helpful for the Soviet Union as the bombing destabilized the neighboring Cambodia. The overthrow of Ferdinand Marcos was a victory for the U.S. as it lead to democratic elections in which Corazon Aquino was elected.
Why did the US lose the Vietnam War? The US failed to defeat the North Vietnamese Communists. The North Vietnamese had extraordinary courage, resilience and sacrifice. They had more knowledge of the terrain and a sense of moral superiority. The South Vietnamese Allies had poor morale, they were badly paid, and they exploited US aid for financial gain.
This is clearly observed through imperialism, which was the extension of control over people and territories, by forced submission through military superiority. As a result China was forced into an unequal relationship whereby they were forced to accept treaties, which reduced their sphere of influence and sovereignty. However it also resulted in the embracing of modern technology and revolutions that led China to become the nation it is today. In the first 50 years of from 1750 to 1800, western imperialism had little effect on China due to military and economic strength. During this period China was under the rein of Qian Long and was still considered the “Middle Kingdom”.