Countering Communism

The Korean War and President Truman's Multiple Offensives

By: Ryan Webb

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Length: 1 hr and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

This paper explores President Truman’s decision to intervene in the Korean War and then cross the 38th parallel and invade North Korea. An analysis of Truman’s foreign policy reveals that intervention in the Korean War was part of a new global offensive against the spread of communism. Domestically, Truman believed that a Korean offensive across the 38th parallel would quiet his critics and allow him to mobilize the economy for a long-term Cold War. Militarily, Truman’s advisors overwhelmingly supported the invasion of North Korea. They concluded that Korea could be unified after North Korean forces were destroyed. The paper then discusses the extent to which foreign policy, domestic, and military objectives were achieved. In foreign policy, Truman prevented the spread of communism in Asia and Europe and protected the independence of South Korea. Domestically, Truman did not escape his critics, but succeeded in mobilizing the country for a long-term Cold War. Militarily, the offensive failed. Korea was not unified and 34,000 U.S. soldiers were killed and another 100,000 were wounded.