10 Facts About the Korean War

The Korean War is one of the most overlooked conflicts in American history. Here are 10 facts I think eveybody should know about this war.

1. In June of 1950, North Korea, which was communist controlled and influenced by Russia, invaded South Korea, which was democratic and influenced by the U.S.

2. To help keep America's containment policy, Truman asked the UN for troop support, and 16 nations pitched in. Pacific WWII hero General Douglas MacAuthur, was appointed the commander of all the UN troops.

3. When North Korea controlled almost all of South Korea, MacAurthur pushed his troops across the 38th parallel, the former border between the Koreas.

4. As a result of UN troop movement coming closer to the Chinese border, China entered the was and attcked in waves of hundreds of thousands of people on November 25, 1950.

5. China felt threatened by the U.S. presence in North Korea, and they thought the U.S. was using the war as a chance to expand their power.

6. General asked permission from Truman to blockade Chinese ports and bomb their coastines, using as much as 50 atomic bombs! Truman refused, and fired MacAurthur.

7. The war between North and South Korea was like a war between the Soviets and America; each country was funneling money and supplies to either side of the war.

8. In July of 1951, Truman agreed to peace truce talks with Russia, and they dragged on for two years through the presidential election on 1952, when Dwight Eisenhower was elected.

9. Secretly, Eisenhower was open to using nuclear weapons against Korea, hoping for a quick end to the unpopular war.

10. On June 27, 1953, North and South Korea agreed to a cease-fire, but the boundry line was roughly drawn at the 38th parallel, so neither side gained or lost much land.