Why Did America Fight the Korean War? | 5-Minute Videos
What was the Korean War? And why was America involved in such a faraway conflict? Was the United States’ sacrifice—35,000 killed, over 100,000 wounded—worth it? Historian Victor Davis Hanson, Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, shares the fascinating story of the transformative war that many have forgotten.
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Script:
Mention the Korean War today and most people will look at you with a blank stare. At the time it was fought, just five years after World War II ended, everyone recognized it as a world-shaping conflict, a stark confrontation between the forces of democracy and communism.
It began on June 25, 1950 when Soviet-backed communist North Korea crossed the 38th parallel and invaded its US-backed anti-communist South Korean neighbor. Within weeks the communists had nearly absorbed the entire country. The United States at first was confused over whether it should—or even could—respond. America had slashed its military budget after the end of World War II and was short both men and equipment. It still had not awakened fully to the expansionist threat of Soviet Russia.
The Soviets—buoyed by their own recent development of an atomic bomb and Mao Zedong’s communist victory in China—sensed America’s lack of resolve and encouraged the North’s aggression. Yet within weeks President Harry Truman rushed troops to save the shrinking Allied perimeter at Pusan on the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula. And by late September, 1950, General Douglas MacArthur had successfully completed the Inchon landings and launched counter-attacks.
He quickly reclaimed the entire south and sent American-led United Nations forces far into North Korea to reunite the entire peninsula—only to be surprised when hundreds of thousands of Chinese Red Army troops crossed the Yalu River at the Chinese border and sent the outnumbered Americans reeling back into South Korea.
Thanks to the genius of General Matthew Ridgeway, who arrived to assume supreme command in South Korea in December 1950, over the next 100 days US led UN forces pushed the communists back across the 38th Parallel. The fighting was fierce. Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, exchanged hands between communist and US led forces five times before it was finally secured.
During the years 1952 and 1953, the war grew static, neither side able to deliver a knockout blow. Eventually the conflict ended with a tense armistice in July 1953. For over the next 60 years, a cold war persisted between the Stalinist North and what, by the 1980s, had evolved into the democratic, economic powerhouse of South Korea.
Over 35,000 Americans died in the Korean War. The war marked the first major armed conflict of the Nuclear Age, and one in which the United States had not clearly defeated the enemy and thus not dictated terms of surrender. Was fighting the Korean War and restoring the South—without uniting the entire peninsula—worth the huge cost in blood and treasure?
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"The Korean war was an incomplete America victory…but a victory nonetheless."
I agree with this, and I believe that the decision to seek a ceasefire and divide the country on the 38th parallel was the correct one. An attempt to liberate the entire peninsula with China fully committed to the conflict would have brought about inconceivable bloodshed and perilous risks of escalation to an even greater catastrophe. While unconditional surrender was the correct approach to fighting WWII, it is not appropriate or worth it for every war, and the wisdom shown by American leadership in knowing both when to engage and when to stand down was extraordinary.
I'm confused why this video has so many dislikes. Nothing said in it is false, and I'll always be thankful for my US brothers for saving us.
Thank you to the brave soldiers of the country who fought in the Korean War, fought against the Communist Party, and protected the Republic of Korea from 1950 to 1953 to protect the freedom of the Republic of Korea. Thank you. In South Jeolla Province. (Close my eyes, heart eye)😘❤️🤎❤️💙💥💢
Victor Davis Hanson is an American treasure.
Make no mistake, the democrat party is 'in' with these communist peoples worldwide, a cabal.
North Korea was thriving compared to the south for decades. Their life expectancy was higher, it’s GDP, it’s income per capita, and it’s infrastructure was much better. South Korea was ruled by a U.S. backed dictatorship, and it wasn’t until 1990 when South Korea got back on it’s feet, and North Koreas economy began to decline as it’s communist Allie’s had collapsed.
This video so stupidly skips over the fact South Koreas government killed over 100k-200k South Korean civilians for sympathies of their northern neighbors (Bodo Leauge Massacre) and people fled TO North Korea to escape the dictatorship. So tell me how North Korea was wrong to invade their “neighbor” when it was simply their land under control of another foreign power, and liberate them from this mass butcher in power. Even during the war, it was all South Korea committing most and the WORST war crimes under Chariman Rhees rule. And this persisted for decades, just look up the Gwangju Uprising, only then did this bloody dictatorship end, meanwhile North Korea was thriving. The fact US bombing killed over 20% of North Korean citizens, an act so uncalled for and brutal that Churchill likened it to genocide, is the reason North Korea is the way it is now. The Kim family, the nuclear arms, the isolation; everything can be pointed right back to the US intervention in a foreign civil war. It blew up in everyone’s faces because they couldn’t stay out, and now South Korea is ruled by companies with suicide rates through the roof, a literal capitalist hell hole. And North Korea, now a shell of its former self, it’s always paranoid or afraid of another invasion, so they arm themselves with nuclear bombs not to attack america, but to defend itself from them. Their food scarcity is the result of them having no valued or trustworthy Allie’s, and now they’re ruled by a total monarch who pleads “communism”. This war was the biggest bluff that turned brother and sister against each other, and it all could’ve been avoided had we stayed out. Socialist North Korea wasn’t the hell hole it is now, it couldve led to a thriving unified Korea, even if it meant a future collapse. These borders and hatred of North Korea would’ve never existed.
You want to make sure your military industrial complex is working.
America fought the Korean war in order to protect democracy worldwide and in Asia. Simple. God bless US and South Korea, may one day be unification but under South Korean flag 🇰🇷🇰🇷🇰🇷🇺🇲
Better USA forget the Korean War . How to explain not defeating China who have only a small and inexperience Air Force . Cant explain but can only tell diabolical lies . Like that guy just did !
Amen❤❤❤
Blaming North Korea for its current state is like blaming the Jews for the Holocaust
Reagan’s Star Wars is credited with being the straw that broke the camel’s back. But without the mass of the US military in South Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq, what would a straw on the back of an evil empire meant?
To stop the spread of Bolshevik Communism and again in Vietnam. However, these wars and in fact the entire cold war, were completely preventable if America had remained neutral during WWII and allowed the valiant Germans to destroy Communism completely, which was their ultimate objective.
The PBS documentary "The Battle of Chosin" should be required watching.
Thank you. Of course I had no idea. I am a product of California's San Francisco liberal education. Due to lack of inherent money, no one cared to see that those like me, would be afforded an informed, nonpolitical, education. Rather, like many, I was filled with Marxist ideals, and as a young man, I thought… WOW! Why don't we live this way. As a man of years now, having grown up in a highly liberal environment, I know much better now and can see the communistic influence and depravity of my state politics and life style. We are the least free citizens of America.
🇺🇲 strategy to counter growth of communism in Asia later became a threat to many countries particularly 🇮🇳. It employed Mujahideen to fight against Soviet expansionism into South Asia for which it used 🇵🇰 as an ally. 🇵🇰 used American training for asymmetric warfare against Soviets in Afghanistan for promoting Separatism in my 🇮🇳. It supported Militant groups in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir which lead loss of many civilian lives and critical infrastructure and loss of peace and prosperity in that region. American counter communism has indirectly lead loss of lives for Indians.
You see how north Korea is? That would be all of Korea without us.
This is a war that should've had a winner, but instead it ended in the longest ceasefire in history, and is technically still ongoing.
Ah, the "Forgotten War" that was overshadowed by WW2 etc.
How many countries fought for South Korea?
My uncle John fought in Korea. He was Canadian. Thankful for his service.
I highly recommend James Brady's book, The Marines of Autumn, to learn some of what our troops went through in 1950. It also really captures the ethos of the USMC ❤
Dad met & married Mom there at the end of the war. We spent many years growing up in ROK and USA. I Love both my heritages and also growing up as a military brat over there. So many young people here have no idea how easy life is here in America.
communism is good in theory socialism is good
The comment about the companies that have come from South Korea speaks volumes to what a free and prosperous people can do. South Korea has done good with what was achieved by the conflict.
This is an old video
Our veterans did well. Happy Marine Corp Birthday 🎂. The Republic is the answer.
Let freedom ring!
The Americans were the largest western force, but more significant was that the efforts were shared by allies worldwide, even tiny Luxemburg sent in soldiers to fight for Korea. A hint of a new world order.
Although I have Korean blood, my family has shunned me, my home country shunned me when I said I was Korean. They actually got in my face, and said: “YOU ARE AMERICAN!!” However, I’m proud that my paternal grandfather fought for the entirety of The Korean War; and when he passed on, his remaining regiment came and promoted him to: First Sergeant. As an Airman, I’m proud to be an American, to have fought for my country, protected it during my time overseas, and continued my grandfather’s legacy.
We NEED President Trump BACK!!! When he does get back, I say: put Vivek as the Secretary of The VA. Us veterans NEED A CHANGE!!!
but woke people be like "north korea, best korea" 😏
Korea stands as a prime example of a nation that developed through the highly successful diplomatic and political strategies of the United States America . In order to protect the unfamiliar country of Korea, young soldiers from Free and Democratic Nations, centered around the U.S, bravely sacrificed themselves on the battlefield.
Thanks to their sacrifices, Korea could miraculously recover. After the armistice, Korea established a secure foundation through the support of the USA and a robust military alliance, ensuring a safe footing. Korea owes its existence to the presence of the United States and could achieve such growth under america. assistance.
Despite receiving support and assistance from the United States, we've witnessed cases where usa strategies failed.
However, the crucial factor is not the failure of the U.S., but rather the success depends on the determination of the supported nation and its people to make efforts and overcome challenges on their own
The United States America supported Korea, and as a result,
Korea grew into a stable and democratic nation. The U.S investment was not in vain. Therefore, the majority of Koreans can't help but have a positive sentiment towards the United States America
Why does your favorite U.S. President, Mr. Trump love Kim Jung Un so much?
If you take the viewpoint of the Military Industrial Complex, borrowing large sums of money to fund WW2 finalized and cemented the ideology of war for profit in the US. Both the private republican and private democrat parties act together as investors to keep the US in one war or another for as long as the public will allow. Extremest groups are funded with the hope that they will one day become a profitable enemy. Because Capitalism breeds ingenuity, the extreme amounts of money going towards the war machine lead to the US mostly having the best equipment and technology. This almost guarantees a positive investment stream. The real goal is the forever war fueled by almost religious patriotism heavily inspired by the media, which the democrat and republican private parties own. These are not public parties working in the best interest of the country, they are private parties working towards their goals of power and money. War is income gain when you own the company that supplies the munitions.
Sadly, the democrat party is now pretty much communist and is on the verge of destroying the U.S.
My great great uncle fought from early 1951 to 1952 for a year. He told me the cold winter was just as bad as winters in his home of South Dakota. He once saw starving civilians beside a train track and threw out food from the train he was on. A Sergeant had to stop him and show him that he couldn't help everyone. For many years afterward, he donated money to orphanages in South Korea. Donald 'Donny' Rex died on Christmas Eve 2015 at 88.
Also in South Dakota I met a veteran who was an Army sniper who received the Bronze Star and got shot in his leg. He showed me his wound without hesitation. His name is Laurel Foss.
Here in Ohio, I also met a Marine who was at the Chosin Resevoir.